Red-tailed Hawk

This feather belongs to the iconic Red-tailed Hawk, a heavy-bodied raptor known for its broad, rounded wings and short, wide tail. While adults have the namesake brick-red tail, their wing feathers remain mottled brown and white for camouflage. In flight, they are masters of soaring on thermals.

Mottled brown and cream-white. It features wide, dark brown transverse bands against a lighter buff-to-white background. The outer vane is darker than the inner vane.

Mostly pennaceous and tightly interlocked for flight efficiency; the base exhibits a plumulaceous (downy) structure for insulation.

Firm and stiff to the touch with a smooth, matte finish. The trailing edge is softer than the leading edge to reduce noise during flight.

Bold, dark brown 'subterminal' banding; broad width-to-length ratio; clean white calamus (quill).

Extremely versatile: found in open woodlands, grasslands, agricultural fields, mountain ranges, and increasingly in urban/suburban parks.

Ubiquitous across North America, from central Alaska and Canada down through Mexico and into Central America.

Apex predator; plays a vital role in controlling rodent and rabbit populations. They are excellent environmental indicators of prey health.

Red-shouldered Hawk (smaller, more high-contrast bands) and Cooper's Hawk (more elongated, different banding spacing).

The 'scream' used for nearly every hawk or eagle in Hollywood movies is actually the call of a Red-tailed Hawk. They are also known to hunt in pairs occasionally to flush out prey.

Good condition; minor fraying at the tip and a small 'fault bar' or gap in the vane suggests a brief period of nutritional stress during growth.