Likely Red-tailed Hawk (also called chickenhawk); identification is tentative from a single feather.

This is a pale, dark-marked feather consistent with a large raptor, but the pattern alone cannot securely identify a Red-tailed Hawk. Adults are robust, broad-winged hawks with variable plumage and, in many populations, a brick-red tail; they soar on updrafts and give a familiar descending rasping cry.

Creamy white upper vane with dark brown to black mottling and a broad dark basal area. No red tail pattern is visible, so the species identification is not diagnostic.

Mostly compact, interlocking pennaceous barbs, with loose downy barbs near the base. Some edge barbs appear separated or frayed.

Pale, slender rachis runs the feather’s length; dark mottling is concentrated across the lower vane, with lighter barbs above.

Matte-looking, smooth vane with a soft, fluffy base; some barbs are visibly loose.

Probably from the wing, based on its elongated form and asymmetric vane; the image does not establish a specific feather tract.

Broad pale vane, dark basal mottling, and a sturdy central shaft suggest a raptor feather. The red tail, a key Red-tailed Hawk feature, is absent.

Red-tailed Hawks use open country, woodland edges, grasslands, farmland, deserts, and urban areas, often nesting in trees or on cliffs.

Common across much of North America, from Alaska and Canada to Mexico and the Caribbean; many northern birds migrate south in winter.

As a predator of rodents and other small animals, Red-tailed Hawks help regulate prey populations. The species remains widespread, though habitat changes and human impacts can affect local populations.

Rough-legged Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, and large owls can have pale-and-dark feathers; pattern, feather dimensions, and comparison with a complete wing are needed to separate them reliably.

Red-tailed Hawks are highly adaptable and frequently hunt from perches, taking rodents, rabbits, and other small prey.

Raptor feathers may be legally protected; in the United States, possession of most native hawk feathers is restricted. Do not collect or trade this specimen without checking applicable laws and permits.

Photograph both sides beside a ruler and compare with verified regional feather guides. Record the location, but avoid collecting feathers from protected birds or nests.

Appears intact overall, with slightly frayed edges and loose down at the base; no obvious oiling or severe damage is visible.