Red-shouldered Hawk

A medium-sized forest hawk with a reddish-brown checkered back and breast, featuring striking black-and-white checkered wings and a distinctly banded tail.

Striking pattern of bold, horizontal dark brown or black bars alternating with crisp white or pale grey bands, typical of Red-shouldered Hawk wing feathers.

Pennaceous structure with tightly interlocked barbs and barbules forming a firm, durable vane. No prominent afterfeather.

Strong, prominent central rachis that is white to pale ivory near the base and dark brown distally. Barbs are tightly packed and uniformly angled.

Smooth, firm, and matte texture with rigid vanes designed to withstand aerodynamic pressure during flight.

Secondary flight feather from the wing, determined by the broad shape, strong shaft curvature, and distinctive alternating dark and light checkered banding pattern.

High-contrast black-and-white checkered banding pattern on a broad, rounded secondary flight feather.

Deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, often near rivers, swamps, and flooded bottomlands.

Resident in eastern North America and along the Pacific coast of California, with stable populations inhabiting woodland areas.

Apex avian predator helping to control populations of small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.

Broad-winged Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk, but distinguished by the distinct high-contrast checkered banding.

Red-shouldered Hawks are very vocal and are frequently mimicked by Blue Jays.

Feathers of raptors hold cultural significance for various Indigenous peoples; strictly protected by law.

Look for molted feathers near forest edges, riparian zones, and known nesting trees during spring and summer.

Good condition with intact barbs and minimal signs of wear or fading.