Cooper's Hawk (Chicken Hawk)

This feather comes from a medium-sized hawk known for its long tail and rounded wings. Adults have a blue-gray back and a crown that is darker than the nape. They are agile aerial hunters that weave through dense canopy at high speeds to ambush prey.

Adult plumage displaying a slate-gray to brownish-gray base with distinct dark brown or blackish horizontal banding (bars). The underside is paler with high-contrast barring.

Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs on the distal portion for aerodynamic efficiency; more plumulaceous (fluffy) near the base (calamus) for insulation.

Smooth and firm surface with a slightly matte finish. The trailing edge is soft to allow for stealthy, though not silent, woodland flight.

Distinctive wide dark bands (barring) and a rounded tip typical of the Accipiter genus; size differentiates it from the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Found in various woodland types, from deep forests to leafy suburban parks and backyards where bird feeders are present.

Common across North America, from Southern Canada through the United States to Central Mexico. Northern populations are migratory; southern ones are residents.

Apex avian predator in woodland ecosystems. They help regulate songbird and small mammal populations. They are sensitive to environmental toxins like pesticides.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (smaller, thinner bands), Northern Goshawk (much larger, more silver-gray), and Red-shouldered Hawk (more checkerboard pattern).

Cooper's Hawks were once called 'Quail Hawks.' They are famous for their 'stealth-and-dash' hunting style, capable of navigating thick brush at high speed.

The feather appears to be in excellent condition with an intact calamus, suggesting it was naturally molted rather than pulled or damaged by a predator.