Red-shouldered Hawk

This feather belongs to the Red-shouldered Hawk, a medium-sized raptor known for its vibrant rufous breast and beautifully barred wings and tail. In flight, they show a translucent 'window' near the wingtips. They are highly vocal, often giving a loud 'kee-aher' call.

Distinctive bold, alternating wide bands of dark brownish-black and crisp white/cream. The bands are sharply defined, which is a hallmark of the Red-shouldered Hawk's tail plumage.

Pennaceous and tightly interlocked throughout most of the vane for flight stability, becoming plumulaceous (downy) at the very base near the calamus.

Smooth, stiff, and somewhat glossy on the dorsal surface; matte and slightly paler on the ventral surface. The feather feels firm to the touch to withstand air pressure.

Bold, even, high-contrast black and white banding on a symmetrical tail feather; relatively small size compared to Red-tailed Hawk feathers.

Deciduous or mixed woodlands, often near water sources like rivers, streams, and swamps. They prefer bottomland hardwood forests.

Common across the eastern United States and along the coast of California and northern Mexico; eastern populations are partially migratory, moving to the southern US or Mexico in winter.

Top-tier predator; feeds on small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, helping to regulate populations of voles, mice, and frogs.

Broad-winged Hawk (fewer, wider tail bands) and Red-tailed Hawk (adults have rufous tails; juveniles have thinner, more numerous brown bands).

Red-shouldered Hawks are known to be quite territorial and will often return to the same nesting territory year after year, sometimes for decades.

Good condition; the barbs are mostly intact with very minor fraying at the tip, suggesting it was recently molted or dropped in a protected area.