Cooper's Hawk

This feather belongs to the Cooper's Hawk, a medium-sized forest raptor known for its long tail and rounded wings. Adults have a blue-gray back and rufous-barred underparts, while this feather's brown and white banding is characteristic of their steady, powerful flight profile.

Dark chocolate-to-sooty brown base with 5-6 distinctive white-to-pale cream transverse bars (ovate spots) on the inner vane; the outer vane is mostly solid brown. The underside is significantly paler.

Densely interlocked pennaceous barbs providing a stiff aerodynamic surface; some plumulaceous (downy) structure near the superior umbilicus at the base.

Smooth and firm dorsal surface with a slightly matte finish; the ventral side is more satiny. The feather is stiff enough to withstand high-pressure air resistance.

Distinctive clean white banding on the inner vane, rounded tip, and dark brown base color which separates it from the more pointed and larger Buteo feathers.

Woodlands, forest edges, and increasingly common in leafy suburban parks and backyards with bird feeders.

Found across North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico; northern populations are migratory while southern birds are residents.

Apex avian predator; they help regulate populations of songbirds and small mammals, acting as a natural check in the ecosystem.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (smaller, narrower feathers) and Red-shouldered Hawk (more numerous, thinner white bands and more translucent crescents).

The Cooper's Hawk is a specialist at hunting other birds; it was once nicknamed the 'Chicken Hawk.' They can fly through dense vegetation at high speeds to catch prey.

Good condition; minor ruffling of the barbs on the trailing edge suggests it was a naturally molted feather rather than lost in a struggle.