Cooper's Hawk

This is a signature wing feather of a medium-sized hawk specialized for agile flight through dense trees. The adult bird has a blue-gray back and a crown that contrasts with its lighter nape, along with reddish-orange barring on the breast and thick dark bands on a long, rounded tail.

Boldly banded (barred) with alternating dark charcoal-gray/brown and pale off-white to light gray bands. The tip is dark with a very fine white terminal edge. The underside (ventral) is paler with more diffuse barring.

Densely pennaceous and tightly interlocked with microscopic hooklets (barbicels), providing a firm, aerodynamic surface. The base shows a small amount of plumulaceous (downy) barbs near the calamus.

Smooth, stiff, and slightly glossy on the dorsal surface. The vane is rigid enough to resist air pressure but retains the micro-texture characteristic of diurnal raptors (lacking the velvet of an owl).

Heavy, even charcoal-and-white banding; rounded tip; stiff texture characteristic of Accipiters; size larger than a Sharp-shinned Hawk but smaller than a Goshawk.

Woodlands, forest edges, and increasingly common in leafy suburban areas and parks where prey is abundant.

Common year-round resident across most of the United States and Mexico, with northern populations in Canada migrating south for the winter.

Apex avian predator in woodland and suburban ecosystems; helps regulate populations of medium-sized birds (doves, starlings, jays) and small mammals.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (smaller, usually thinner bands) and Northern Goshawk (larger, bands usually more wavy or mottled).

Cooper’s Hawks are known as 'pigeon hawks' or 'chicken hawks' and are masterful hunters of other birds. They are famous for their 'stealth' attacks, often flying low to the ground and over obstacles to surprise prey.

The feather appears to be in excellent condition with minimal wear or fraying, suggesting it was recently molted. No fault bars or parasite damage are visible.