Likely Red-tailed Hawk; identification from this single feather is uncertain.

This is a brown-and-cream barred feather, plausibly from a Red-tailed Hawk, a large, broad-winged raptor often seen soaring over open landscapes. The bird has a distinctive rusty adult tail, though this feather does not show that diagnostic feature.

Warm brown upper area with broad dark-brown and pale cream bands toward the lower vane. The pattern is consistent with several raptors and is not diagnostic of Red-tailed Hawk.

Pennaceous vanes with interlocking barbs; the lower portion appears loose or frayed, and no clear aftershaft is visible.

A slim, pale central rachis runs the length of the feather; barbs form broad, contrasting bands, with some apparent separation near the base.

Appears matte and relatively smooth above, with a softer, ragged-looking base; texture cannot be confirmed from a photograph.

Probably from the wing, based on its elongated form and broad banded vane; precise position is uncertain.

Long tapered outline and broad brown-and-cream bars suggest a raptor feather, but neither the pattern nor image alone supports a confident species-level identification.

Red-tailed Hawks occupy open country, woodland edges, grasslands, farmland, and urban areas, nesting in trees or on cliffs and structures.

Widespread across North America, with many populations resident and northern birds moving south in winter.

Red-tailed Hawks are important predators of rodents and other small animals and can indicate the health of open-country ecosystems; populations are generally widespread and stable.

Other buteos, including Swainson’s Hawk and Rough-legged Hawk, can have similarly barred brown feathers. Feather position, size, and full-pattern comparison are needed to distinguish them.

Red-tailed Hawks often hunt from perches or while soaring, taking rodents and other small prey; their familiar raspy scream is widely used in films as a generic raptor call.

Raptor feathers have cultural significance in some Indigenous traditions, but possession and trade are regulated. In the United States, most native hawk feathers cannot legally be collected or kept without authorization.

Photograph both sides beside a ruler and record where it was found; compare with reference collections rather than relying on color alone. Avoid collecting feathers where wildlife laws prohibit it.

Base looks frayed or separated; no obvious major break or strong bleaching is visible. Overall condition appears fair.