Likely Bald Eagle; also called American Eagle. Identification is tentative from this single feather.

A substantial dark raptor feather with a rounded tip, uneven vanes, and pale basal markings. Bald Eagles are large, broad-winged fish-eating eagles, but this pattern is not diagnostic enough for a confident species identification.

Dark brown to charcoal vane with a broad pale cream-white area along one side near the base. This could reflect natural color patterning, but the feather alone does not establish species or age.

Mostly tightly interlocking pennaceous barbs; the lower portion is ragged, with separated or broken barbs. No distinctive owl-like fringe is visible.

A prominent straight brown rachis divides the unequal vanes; barbs are dark above and pale around the lower patterned area.

Smooth, firm, and matte, with loose, frayed barbs near the base.

Probably from the wing, based on its long, stiff, asymmetrical shape; a tail feather cannot be excluded from this view.

Large size, dark brown coloration, pale basal patch, and asymmetrical vane suggest a large bird’s flight feather; multiple eagle, hawk, and other large-bird species may look similar.

If from a Bald Eagle, typical habitats include lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coasts with large trees or cliffs for nesting and perching.

Bald Eagles occur across much of North America, with northern birds often moving south in winter; this feather cannot confirm that origin.

Bald Eagles are top-level predators and scavengers that influence fish and waterbird food webs. Their recovery in North America followed major conservation protections, though habitat disturbance and contaminants remain concerns.

Golden Eagle, large hawks, and other eagle species can have dark flight feathers with pale areas. Identification generally requires feather measurements, pattern comparisons, and location; this image alone is insufficient.

Bald Eagles are powerful fishers that also scavenge and steal prey from other birds. Their white head and tail develop as adults, usually around four to five years old.

Eagle feathers have important cultural and ceremonial significance for many Indigenous peoples. In the United States, possession and use of Bald Eagle feathers are legally restricted, with specific exceptions and permits.

Record length, both vane widths, shaft details, and location, then compare with a regional feather guide. Do not collect or keep suspected eagle feathers; check local wildlife laws.

Barbs near the base appear frayed or separated; overall condition is fair. Wear or breakage is visible, but molt stage and cause cannot be determined from the image.