Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern form or Adult typical)

A classic adult tail feather from a Red-tailed Hawk. The bird itself is a large, bulky raptor with broad, rounded wings and the namesake cinnabar-red tail in adults. Immature birds lack this red tail, instead possessing brown-and-white banded feathers.

Uniform rufous-red or brick-red on the dorsal surface with a very faint, thin subterminal dark band near the tip. Ventral surface is a paler, pinkish-cinnamon.

Pennaceous; tightly interlocked barbs for wind resistance with a small amount of plumulaceous (downy) structure at the very base of the calamus.

Smooth, stiff, and somewhat matte. The surface is durable to withstand the mechanical stress of braking and steering during flight.

Solid rufous color without bold barring; stiff rectrix structure; size consistent with a large Buteo hawk.

Extremely varied: open woodlands, agricultural fields, scrublands, deserts, and urban highway margins where high perches are available.

Year-round resident across most of North America; northernmost populations (Canada/Alaska) migrate to the Southern US and Central America during winter.

Apex predator; primarily controls rodent and rabbit populations, though also opportunistic with reptiles and smaller birds.

Red-shouldered Hawk (smaller, bold black/white bars), Ferruginous Hawk (larger, often paler tail), or Cooper's Hawk (gray/brown with thick bands).

The scream of the Red-tailed Hawk is so iconic that it is almost always used in Hollywood movies to represent any eagle or hawk, including the Bald Eagle.

Good condition; showing minor wear and fraying at the tip and edges, likely a naturally molted feather (post-breeding season).