Red-shouldered Hawk (Red-shouldered Buzzard)

The Red-shoulder Hawk is a medium-sized forest raptor recognized by its reddish-brown barred underparts, checkered black-and-white wings, and long banded tail. They are vocal birds often giving a piercing ke-yur call.

Rich warm brown to rufous base with distinctive horizontal or V-shaped white barring and spotting, typical of underparts plumage in a Red-shouldered Hawk

Pennaceous at the upper distal tip with interlocked barbs, transitioning to plumulaceous (fluffy, downy) structure at the proximal base with reduced barbicels

Slender, flexible, light-colored central rachis with moderate barb density; barbs emerge at a moderately acute angle, transitioning cleanly from tightly bound to loose downy plumes

Soft and silky at the base with a stiffer, smooth pennaceous tip; matte surface finish without iridescence

Breast or flank contour feather, determined by the broad, rounded shape and the combination of a distinctly banded pennaceous tip and a fluffy basal downy plume

Distinctive rufous-brown coloration combined with crisp white spotting and horizontal barring, plus a soft downy base typical of raptor breast contour feathers

Deciduous and mixed lowland forests, wooded swamps, river groves, and riparian areas near water

Eastern North America and a distinct resident population along the coast of California; non-migratory across most of its range

Apex avian predator controlling small mammal, reptile, and amphibian populations, serving as a key indicator of healthy forest wetland ecosystems

Broad-winged Hawk or Cooper's Hawk, but distinguished by the specific rich rufous tones and bold white barring pattern

Red-shouldered Hawks often reuse the same nests year after year, sometimes adding fresh sprigs of evergreen foliage to the structure

Hawk feathers hold significance in various Native American cultures. Historical and modern collection is strictly regulated

Look near forested wetlands, mature woodlots, or nesting territories, especially during late spring and summer molt periods

Good condition, showing minor wear and fraying at the distal edges but with an intact rachis and clean barbs