I've watched hawks take a songbird, and remove the big flight feathers before flying off, so their cargo (which is usually still struggling) is more aerodynamic. But it looks like they pull the feathers with their beaks.

These feathers were cut neatly near the root, looks almost like scissors. Hawk or owl? And I also don't recognize the color of these feathers, anybody have a clue? Western Mass, our yard is filled with mockingbirds, robins, flickers, cardinals, grosbeaks, and smaller birds, but these look like they're from something bigger.



PS The honker on a Grosbeak makes a splendid sound.