Red-shouldered Hawk (also known as the Winter Hawk or Hen Hawk)

This feather belongs to the Red-shouldered Hawk, a medium-sized forest hawk recognized by its 'shoulders' of reddish-orange and its haunting, repetitive 'kee-rah' call. The bird has a distinctively long tail and boldly barred black-and-white wings which are beautifully represented in this specimen. In flight, they show translucent 'windows' near the wingtips.

Striking pattern of alternating dark brownish-black and crisp white-to-creamy bands. The dorsal surface shows high contrast, while the ventral surface is more muted. A solid dark terminal band is present at the tip.

Tightly interlocked and pennaceous throughout most of the vane for aerodynamic efficiency; plumulaceous (downy) at the very base. The barbicels remain mostly intact, though some separation is visible on the lower trailing edge.

The surface is smooth and relatively stiff with a slightly matte finish. The dorsal side has a velvety texture common in raptors to reduce noise, though not as extreme as an owl's.

High-contrast dark and light banding; rounded tip; white rachis at base; specific size indicative of a medium Buteo.

Deciduous and mixed woodlands, often near water sources such as rivers, swamps, or marshes. They prefer areas with tall trees for nesting and open understories for hunting.

Year-round resident in the Eastern United States, California, and parts of Mexico. Northern populations in New England and the Great Lakes may migrate to the Southern U.S. during winter.

Top-tier predator; they control populations of rodents, amphibians, and reptiles. They are sensitive to forest fragmentation, making them important indicators of forest health.

Broad-winged Hawk (bands are wider and fewer), Red-tailed Hawk (immature feathers have thinner, less contrasting bands and lack the stark white gaps), Cooper's Hawk (more elongated and narrower).

Red-shouldered Hawks are highly territorial; they have been known to return to the same nesting territory for many consecutive years, sometimes for the life of the bird.

Good condition. The feather shows minor wear at the edges (fraying) and some separation of the barbs near the calamus, suggesting it was likely naturally molted rather than lost to trauma.