Red-tailed Hawk

This iconic feather belongs to an adult Red-tailed Hawk, a large raptor known for its broad, rounded wings and short, wide tail. Adults are characterized by the eponymous cinnamon-red tail which flashes brightly in the sun as they soar in circular patterns (kettles) using thermals.

Rufous-orange (brick red) base color on the dorsal surface with a prominent dark brown subterminal band near the tip and several thinner, faint transverse bars typical of certain subspecies or age variations. The rachis is pale.

Pennaceous and tightly interlocked along the main vane for aerodynamics, becoming plumulaceous (fluffy) at the very base near the calamus.

Smooth, stiff, and somewhat matte. The surface is designed for durability and wind resistance during soaring and maneuvering.

Distinctive rufous-orange coloration, presence of a dark subterminal band, and a pale, rigid rachis.

Extremely versatile; found in open woodlands, agricultural fields, grasslands, desert scrub, and urban parks with tall trees or poles for perching.

Widespread throughout North America, from central Alaska and Canada south through Mexico and Central America to the West Indies.

Top-tier predator that controls rodent and rabbit populations; they are essential for maintaining the balance of small mammal communities.

Red-shouldered Hawk (smaller, more numerous narrow bands), Ferruginous Hawk (can have rufous tones but usually lacks the distinct subterminal band), and juvenile Red-tailed Hawks (brown and white banded tails).

Red-tailed Hawks are the 'voice' of almost every hawk or eagle in Hollywood movies; their piercing, raspy scream is frequently dubbed over footage of Bald Eagles, which actually have much chirpier, weaker calls.

Fair to Good; there is visible wear and fraying at the tip (distal end) and along the edges, likely from ground contact or age prior to molting.