Cooper's Hawk (Chicken Hawk)

This feather belongs to a Cooper's Hawk, a crow-sized woodland raptor known for its incredible agility. The bird features a blue-gray back and a crown that is darker than its nape, giving it a 'capped' appearance. Adults have reddish-barred breasts.

Base color is a medium cool gray with three to four distinct, broad, dark brown to charcoal horizontal bands (bars). The tip shows a faint white terminal band, which is diagnostic for this species.

Pennaceous and tightly interlocked throughout the mid and upper vane; plumulaceous (downy) at the very base (calamus area).

Smooth and firm texture with a slightly matte finish; the leading surface is aerodynamic and relatively stiff to support flight and steering.

Distinct broad dark banding on a gray background and a notable white tip at the end of the feather (though slightly worn here).

Found in various woodland habitats, ranging from deep forests to leafy suburban parks and backyards where songbirds are prevalent.

Year-round resident throughout most of the contiguous United States and Mexico; northern populations migrate from Canada to the southern US for winter.

Apex avian predator in woodland ecosystems; helps regulate populations of medium-sized birds like doves, starlings, and jays.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) feathers are nearly identical but significantly smaller with a squared-off tail profile. Northern Goshawk feathers are much larger and more heavily mottled.

Cooper's Hawks are 'accipiters' or 'true hawks,' specializing in hunting birds mid-air. They were once heavily persecuted as 'chicken hawks' but have recovered remarkably.

Fair to Good. Shows significant wear and fraying at the tip and along the margins, likely from impact or ground contact after molting.