Great Horned Owl (also known as Tiger Owl or Hoot Owl)

The Great Horned Owl is a massive, powerful nocturnal predator featuring prominent ear tufts, bright yellow eyes, and a heavily barred brownish-gray plumage. Known for its deep hooting calls, it is one of the most widespread and adaptable owls in the Americas, capable of taking prey as large as skunks, hares, and other raptors.

Intricate barred pattern of dark brown and charcoal alternating with warm buff, tawny, and mottled greyish-white; typical of dorsal and ventral body plumage providing exceptional camouflage

Pennaceous at the terminal tip transitioning to loose, fluffy plumulaceous structure at the base with an extensive downy afterfeather; barbs feature velvety, modified edges characteristic of owls

Extremely soft, velvety, and matte in texture, lacking the stiff waterproofing oils of waterbirds, which allows for completely silent flight

Soft velvety texture, broad rounded shape, and distinct dark brown and tawny horizontal barring with fluffy downy base

Extremely adaptable, inhabiting vast forest types, deserts, wetlands, agricultural areas, tundra edges, and urban parks

Found across nearly all of North America, down through Central America, and deep into South America; a permanent resident throughout its range

Apex nocturnal predator that helps regulate populations of rodents, rabbits, and mesopredators, serving as a key indicator of woodland ecosystem health

Barred Owl (Strix varia) and Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus); Barred owls feature more vertical streaking on underparts while Snowy owls are predominantly white with dark spots

Great Horned Owls possess asymmetrical ear placements allowing for incredible pinpoint hearing in total darkness, and they are often the earliest nesting birds in North America, beginning as early as January

Good condition with minor wear at the very edge of the vane and slight fraying on the lower plumulaceous barbs

Edmonton Alberta