Cooper's Hawk
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae, Genus: Accipiter, Species: Accipiter cooperii · Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) · Flight feather; specifically a primary remex (likely P8 or P9 based on the extreme asymmetry and narrow leading vane).
Species
Accipiter cooperii (High Confidence)
Feather Type
Flight feather; specifically a primary remex (likely P8 or P9 based on the extreme asymmetry and narrow leading vane).
Family
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
Shape
Highly asymmetrical with a very narrow, stiff leading vane and a broader trailing vane; the tip is somewhat pointed, and there is visible emargination on the outer web.
Size
Estimated 18-22 cm (7-9 inches) in length; the width is approximately 2.5-3.5 cm at its widest point. This is consistent with an adult or large juvenile primary.
Rarity
Common. This is one of the most frequently encountered backyard raptors in North America.
Color & Pattern
Boldly banded with alternating dark fuscous-brown and light grayish-white bars. The dark bands are slightly wider than the light bands. The underside is notably paler with a silvery sheen.
Barb Structure
Pennaceous and tightly interlocked throughout most of the vane for aerodynamic integrity, transitioning to plumulaceous (downy) only at the very base of the calamus.
Texture & Surface
The surface is smooth and somewhat matte, lacking the velvety pile of an owl but possessing a firm, waxy texture typical of diurnal raptors for speed and wind resistance.
Description
A medium-sized hawk with short, rounded wings and a very long tail. Adults have a blue-gray back and rufous-barred underparts, while juveniles are brown with vertical breast streaks. This feather shows the classic 'Accipiter' banding used for camouflage against forest light.
Key Features
Extreme asymmetry of the vanes, sharp contrast in the brown and white banding, and a stiff rachis without the soft 'fringe' found in owls of similar color.
Habitat
Woodlands, forest edges, and increasingly common in suburban areas where they hunt songbirds at backyard feeders.
Geographic Range
Year-round resident across much of the United States and Mexico; northern populations (Canada) migrate south for the winter.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good. The feather shows significant wear and separation (splits) between the barbs on the trailing edge, suggesting it was molted naturally at the end of a season.
Interesting Facts
Cooper's Hawks are masters of maneuverability, often hunting through dense canopy at high speeds. They were once nicknamed 'Chicken Hawks' due to their opportunistic predations.
Ecological Role
Apex predator of small-to-medium birds and mammals. They play a vital role in regulating songbird and rodent populations within woodland ecosystems.
Similar Species
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) feathers are nearly identical but significantly smaller and more delicate. Red-shouldered Hawk feathers have more numerous, narrower white bands.