Red-tailed Hawk (also Red-tail)

This is a large hawk feather with the broad, sturdy construction expected of a soaring raptor. Red-tailed Hawks have broad wings, a dark belly band, pale underwings, and characteristic descending screams; adults usually show a brick-red tail, absent from this wing feather.

Warm brown-gray overall, with darker brown along the rachis and conspicuous pale-and-dark transverse barring near the base. The pattern is compatible with a Red-tailed Hawk feather but is not diagnostic alone.

Pennaceous and tightly interlocked, with intact but somewhat worn barbs; the basal portion shows a looser aftershaft-like area.

Dark, sturdy, gently curved rachis; barbs are densely packed distally and become shorter, looser, and more barred toward the base.

Smooth, matte to subtly glossy, and fairly stiff, with mild fraying and wear at the tip and edges.

Wing, inferred from the asymmetry, robust rachis, and long tapered form; exact feather position cannot be assigned confidently from one image.

Large size, robust dark rachis, warm brown coloration, and basal barring suggest a Buteo wing feather. Exact species identification from this feather alone remains uncertain.

Open country, woodland edges, pasture, agricultural land, deserts, and increasingly urban areas; nests in trees, cliffs, and large structures.

Broadly distributed across North America, from Alaska and Canada through the United States to Mexico and Central America; northern birds migrate southward.

A major predator of rodents, rabbits, reptiles, and birds, it helps regulate prey populations and indicates functioning open-country ecosystems. The species remains widespread and is generally listed as Least Concern, though habitat loss and rodenticide exposure are concerns.

Swainson’s, Ferruginous, and Broad-winged Hawk feathers can overlap in appearance. Ferruginous feathers are often paler and larger, while Broad-winged feathers are smaller and more boldly barred; confident separation usually requires a complete wing or known specimen.

Red-tailed Hawks are among North America’s most widespread raptors and commonly reuse prominent perches. Their famous scream is frequently used as a generic raptor sound effect in films.

Raptor feathers hold important cultural significance for many Indigenous peoples; in the United States, possession of naturally shed feathers from native raptors is generally restricted under federal law, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Compare rachis thickness, feather length, vane asymmetry, and barring with reference plates, preferably from a complete wing. Photograph the feather in natural light and record its location; do not collect native raptor feathers where prohibited.

Apparently naturally molted and in good condition, with moderate edge wear and slight tip damage; no obvious fault bars, oiling, or parasite damage.