Birdologists…ornithologists…tomato…tomatoe…all the same…
Anywho, I went for a little hike through the woods today, and I came across two bird feathers. The first (respectively the first picture) is about 2-3 inches long. The second is maybe 8 inches long. Can anyone identify these birds???
Thanx!
Thought to myself…why didn’t I pick up the feathers to bring them home?
Don’t have a clue about the first, but the second feather looks like hawk feathers I’ve seen. I’d check my bird books, but mine are all western books and your feathers may belong to something we don’t even have around here.
Susan
Way to go, Shadow. It seems you have stumbled upon signs of the ever elusive Gallus domesticus. Definitely one for your birder’s diary.
djm
(fixed)
You can milk birds?!?!?
They don’t even have boobs. 
The first feather with the down puff is from the body of the bird. The second photo is a flight feather, which judging from the coloration may be from the same bird. I don’t have any idea about the species.
I was going to say woodcock, but I don’t really know for sure.
What about the blue-footed ones?
Well, and people (cruel, evil, seedy people [like Martin Milner]) also eat what they call chicken “breasts.” I don’t know where they find them, though…
Going by your location and the size of the flight feather, the possibilities are Cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, and red-tailed hawk.
Judging from the number and width of the bars on the feather, I’d go with red-tailed. The plumage varies as to how dark it is, and feathers fade drastically in Florida sun. Your feather appears to be faded and worn at the tip.
Red-tailed hawks are big, sturdy, generally brownish birds with a smallish hooked bill. They’re about 19 inches long with a 49-inch wingspan. Your 8-inch feather would fit nicely on an 18-inch wing.
Compare to the barring on a red-shouldered hawk:
And to the barring on a Cooper’s:
Lamby? Very nice response. Is…is everything okay? You seem a little, I don’t know, unusual today. 
Well well well…gallus domesticus could work for the first…hehe
As for the second, looks like the red-tailed hawk is a good match.
My hike was at my aunt’s place…a good 15-20 minutes from here. Incidentally, for some time now…there has been a hawk lurking about at my house. It’s a pretty good size…looks a little like the red-tailed hawk [from Googled pictures]. I like to watch it in the mornings while it “hunts”, whether it be the occasional field mouse, bug/worm in the ground, or leftover dog food. I’ll see about maybe getting a picture of it.
I believe it to be a Red Tailed Hawk as well. I helped rehabilitate one years ago in Minnesota. Excellent birds… strong, sharp beaks. 
Ah, that sounds like the Voice of Experience, Joseph!
excellent pictures, Lamby!! And quite informative as well. I figured the flight one was from a hawk, but I had no idea what kind.
izzarina, is that picture of you with one of your nestlings? He is sure a cute little fellow!
Yes, that’s me with Séamus (who is now 20 months), aka “Muppy Head”. I think he’s pretty cute too, but I’m terribly biased 
.
Unfortunately that picture is somewhat outdated now…I am no longer hugely pregnant (thank God!), and my hair is 10 inches shorter.
When do people stop saying “X Months old” and start saying “Years”?
Is there a rule about that kind of thing?
Great research Lambchop. Your vast knowledge is amazing.
It was a wonderfully painful experience. I’m just glad it wasn’t a Macaw.
Any fly tiers here?
i dont know much about dem mad american birds but id near say the yellow feather is a HEN hackle(as in female, chest feather)!