Cooper's Hawk
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae, Genus: Accipiter, Species: Accipiter cooperii · Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Allies) · Rectrices (Tail feathers)
Species
Accipiter cooperii
Feather Type
Rectrices (Tail feathers)
Family
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Allies)
Shape
Slightly asymmetrical, elongated with a rounded tip
Size
Approximately 7-9 inches (18-23 cm) in length, consistent with an adult Cooper's Hawk; tail feathers typically range from 6.5 to 9.5 inches.
Rarity
Common; widely distributed and relatively abundant throughout North America.
Color & Pattern
Strong horizontal banding (barring) consisting of alternating dark grayish-brown or slate bands and lighter silver-gray to white bands. The tip features a distinct white terminal band, characteristic of Accipiter hawks.
Barb Structure
Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs for the majority of the vane, transitioning to a soft, plumulaceous base at the calamus; barbs are intact showing functional integrity.
Texture & Surface
Smooth and firm texture with a slightly semi-glossy finish on the dark bands and a matte finish on the lighter bands; surface is aerodynamic and stiff.
Description
These feathers belong to a Cooper’s Hawk, a medium-sized forest hawk known for its agility. Adults have blue-gray backs and rufous-barred underparts, while their long tails are distinctively rounded with thick dark bands. In flight, they show a 'flap-flap-glide' pattern.
Key Features
Bold, even-width dark and light barring; rounded feather tip; prominent white terminal band at the very end of the tail feather.
Habitat
Found in various wooded habitats including deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests, as well as leafy suburbs, parks, and urban areas with mature trees.
Geographic Range
Year-round resident across much of the United States and southern Canada, with northern populations migrating to the southern US and Central America for winter.
Condition Notes
Good to Excellent; the vanes are mostly intact without significant fraying, though some minor separation at the base suggests they were molted or lost during a struggle.
Interesting Facts
Cooper's Hawks are specialized bird hunters. They were once nicknamed 'Chicken Hawks' and are famous for their ability to fly at high speeds through dense vegetation to ambush prey.
Ecological Role
Apex avian predator in woodland ecosystems; helps regulate populations of medium-sized birds (like jays and doves) and small mammals.
Similar Species
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) feathers are very similar but smaller (5-7 inches) and tend to have a flatter/squared tail tip rather than rounded. Northern Goshawk feathers are larger and more heavily mottled.