Red-shouldered Hawk

The Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized forest raptor recognizable by its reddish-brown barred underparts, checkered black-and-white wings, and long tail with narrow white bands. They are vocal birds, often giving a characteristic ke-key-ke-key call as they soar over canopies.

Striking horizontal barring of warm reddish-brown and clean white or pale buff, with a brownish central rachis

Strongly pennaceous upper vane with tightly interlocked barbicels, transitioning to a plumulaceous (fluffy downy) base

Sturdy, moderately thick central rachis curving slightly, with dense barbs extending outward at a consistent angle to form a solid vane

Smooth, firm, and matte in appearance with a rigid pennaceous tip and soft, fluffy base

Breast or mantle feather, identified by its broad rounded shape and distinctive high-contrast barring

Distinctive alternating horizontal bars of rich reddish-brown and white across a broad, rounded body feather

Deciduous and mixed lowland forests, wooded swamps, river bottoms, and riparian areas

Resident across eastern North America, along the Pacific coast, and parts of the subtropics in Florida and California

Apex avian predator regulating populations of small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and large insects

Broad-winged Hawk and Cooper's Hawk, though their feather barring patterns and coloration differ slightly

Red-shouldered Hawks often use the same nest year after year, sometimes adding fresh greenery to the structure before breeding season

Feathers of raptors hold cultural significance in many Indigenous traditions and are strictly regulated or protected under modern conservation law

Look near tall deciduous trees, forest edges, and riparian zones during spring and summer molt periods

Good condition with intact barbs and minimal wear, suggesting it was recently molted

Found it on Bertie drive in Raleigh NC