Cooper's Hawk

This feather comes from a medium-sized hawk known for its agility in thick cover. The bird has a blue-gray back, reddish-barred breast, and a notably long, banded tail with a rounded end. They are stealthy 'sprinters' of the bird world.

Strongly banded with three to four wide, dark chocolate-brown to charcoal horizontal bars separated by lighter silvery-gray to pale brown bands. The tip shows a faint white terminal band, characteristic of this species.

Pennaceous and tightly interlocked throughout most of the vane; plumulaceous (fluffy) at the very base near the calamus.

Smooth and stiff to the touch. The surface is matte rather than glossy, designed for durability and silent maneuvering through woodland canopy.

Wide, even dark bands; distinct white tip (terminal band); rounded tip; size larger than a Sharp-shinned Hawk but smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk.

Woodlands, forest edges, and increasingly common in leafy suburban areas where they hunt at backyard bird feeders.

Year-round resident across most of the contiguous United States and Mexico; migratory populations breed in Southern Canada and winter in Central America.

Apex avian predator. They help regulate populations of smaller birds (like starlings and doves) and small mammals.

Sharp-shinned Hawk feathers are nearly identical but smaller and usually lack the prominent white tip. Red-tailed Hawk tail feathers are rusty red in adults.

Cooper’s Hawks are specialized for hunting other birds in flight. Their long tails act as rudders, allowing them to make hair-pin turns while chasing prey through dense branches.

Excellent condition. The barbs are fully intact with no visible fraying or 'fault bars' (weakness lines), suggesting it was molted from a healthy adult bird.