Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern form or juvenile)

This feather comes from the Red-tailed Hawk, a large, robust raptor with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. While adults are famous for their namesake cinnamon-red tails, juveniles possess brown-and-white barred tail feathers like this one until their first molting cycle. These birds are master soarers, often seen circling high in the sky or perched on utility poles scanning for small mammals.

Pale grayish-white base with multiple thin, dark brown transverse bands (bars). A wide, dark subterminal band is visible near the tip. The tip itself is a buffy-white or light brown. This 'barred' pattern is characteristic of juvenile Red-tailed Hawks or certain northern subspecies.

Densely packed pennaceous barbs along the majority of the vane for structural integrity, transitioning to soft, plumulaceous (downy) barbs at the base (afterfeather area).

Smooth and firm pennaceous surface; matte finish. The trailing and leading edges are nearly equal in texture, suited for the lifting surface of the tail.

Wide, paddle-like shape; distinctive brown-on-grey/white banding; thick white rachis; lack of the velvety 'hush' texture found in owls.

Extremely versatile: found in open woodlands, agricultural fields, grasslands, deserts, and increasingly in urban parks and suburban highway corridors.

Extensive range across North America, from central Alaska and Canada south through Mexico and Central America. Most populations are year-round residents, while northern-most birds migrate south.

Apex predator; plays a critical role in controlling rodent and rabbit populations. They are excellent indicators of environmental health due to their position at the top of the food chain.

Red-shouldered Hawk (smaller, darker/sharper bands), Broad-winged Hawk (fewer, wider bands), or Goshawk (different proportions).

The 'scream' of the Red-tailed Hawk is so iconic that it is almost always used in Hollywood movies to represent any eagle or hawk, regardless of the species actually on screen.

Good condition; the vane is largely intact with minimal fraying. Slight separation of barbs at the edges suggests it was a natural molt.