Cooper's Hawk (sometimes called a Big Blue Darter)

This feather belongs to the Cooper's Hawk, a sleek, medium-sized raptor known for its acrobatic flight through dense trees. Adults have a blue-gray back and rufous-barred underparts, while reaching a wingspan of 24-35 inches. They are the 'stealth fighters' of the bird world, often seen in a quick burst of speed as they hunt smaller birds.

Dusky grayish-brown base with 3 to 4 distinct wide, dark brown/charcoal horizontal bands. The bands are slightly wavy and consistent on both dorsal and ventral sides

Densely packed pennaceous barbs at the tip and along the margins for flight rigidity; some plumulaceous (downy) barbs visible at the base of the vane

Smooth and firm surface with a slightly matte finish; the vane is flexible but retains its shape well, common in woodland raptors

Wide, dark horizontal banding; rounded feather tip; relatively short length compared to Buteo (like Red-tailed Hawk) feathers; whitish rachis base

Mature deciduous and mixed forests, woodlots, and increasingly common in suburban backyards near bird feeders

Common year-round resident across most of the United States and Mexico; northern populations migrate to the southern U.S. and Central America for winter

Apex avian predator in woodland and suburban ecosystems; helps regulate populations of medium-sized birds and rodents

Sharp-shinned Hawk feathers are nearly identical but significantly smaller and more delicate. Red-shouldered Hawk feathers have more high-contrast white spotting/banding

A Cooper's Hawk captures its prey with its feet and kills it by squeezing; they have even been known to drown prey (like ducks) in water

Fair to Good. Minor fraying is visible along the inner vane edge and base, suggesting it was a molted feather rather than one lost to predation