Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern race)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae, Genus: Buteo, Species: Buteo jamaicensis · Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) · Body Contour Feather
Species
Buteo jamaicensis (Estimated confidence 95%)
Feather Type
Body Contour Feather
Family
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
Shape
Ovate (egg-shaped) and slightly asymmetrical; rounded tip with a broad, tapering base.
Size
Approximately 3.5 to 4.5 inches in length. This is consistent with a primary covert or a larger breast/back contour feather for an adult Red-tailed Hawk.
Rarity
Common; one of the most widespread and frequently seen raptors in North America.
Color & Pattern
Warm chocolate-brown distal (top) half, transitioning into a white proximal (bottom) half with distinct brown mottling or 'marbling'. The underside is significantly paler. This 'V' or 'mottled' pattern is a classic field mark for the scapulars of Red-tailed Hawks.
Barb Structure
The upper two-thirds are pennaceous (tightly interlocked), while the lower third is plumulaceous (downy and fluffy) for insulation. Barbs appear healthy with minimal fraying.
Texture & Surface
Smooth and somewhat glossy on the upper pennaceous surface; extremely soft and airy at the base. The vane is moderately rigid to provide some aerodynamic stability.
Description
The Red-tailed Hawk is a large, stout-bodied raptor with broad, rounded wings. While the 'red' tail is iconic in adults, their body plumage is a complex mosaic of browns and whites. This specific feather reflects the 'mottled' V-shape often seen on the back of perched hawks.
Key Features
Ovate shape, distinct transition from solid brown to white mottling at the base, and the characteristic downy afterfeather attachment indicative of Accipitrids.
Habitat
Open landscapes with scattered trees, including grasslands, agricultural fields, edge forests, and coastal dunes like those in Saugatuck, MI.
Geographic Range
Common year-round resident across most of North America; northern populations exhibit migratory movements through the Great Lakes flyway in autumn and spring.
Condition Notes
Excellent condition. The edges are crisp, suggesting a relatively recent molt or a feather shed in a sheltered dune area.
Interesting Facts
The Red-tailed Hawk's scream is so iconic and piercing that it is almost always used in Hollywood movies to represent any eagle or hawk, including the Bald Eagle.
Ecological Role
Apex predator; plays a critical role in controlling rodent and rabbit populations. They are significant indicators of environmental health in open-country ecosystems.
Similar Species
Red-shouldered Hawk (feathers are usually more starkly barred) or Broad-winged Hawk (smaller, with different mottling patterns).
Notes
Found on Lake Michigan dunes near saugatauk MI