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How to Find a Hawk Feather

Hawks are majestic birds of prey common throughout the United States. Most range from about 1 to 2 feet long, with wing spans up to 4 feet wide. Like other birds, hawks molt, or shed their feathers. Unlike many other birds, however, hawk feathers -- particularly their large, striped tail feathers -- are difficult to ignore. When searching for hawk feathers, it is best to look in a secluded area early in the morning to avoid competition from other hawk enthusiasts.

Things You'll Need

Binoculars
Field guide

Instructions

- 1
  Search for hawks early in the morning on a cool day. Young hawks have their first molt in early spring, but adult hawks may molt in spring, summer or early winter. Look around a clear, open area with ample perches. Hawks use perches as vantage points to scan the area for prey, then swoop down and capture. Edges of forests, cliffs and mountains are ideal. Check the Virtual Birder website (see Resources) for a list of hawk watch locations throughout the United States and Canada.
- 2
  Scan the site with binoculars. Look for large hawk nests in trees, cliff edges or rock holes -- nests are about 30 inches in diameter, made from sticks with soft material inside. Look in the sky for the hawks themselves.
- 3
  Look for feathers on the ground in areas where hawks are active, especially around nests. Once you find a feather, consult a field guide to determine the species of hawk the feather belongs to, and to verify it's a hawk feather rather than a vulture feather.

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