Great Horned Owl (also known as the Tiger Owl and Hoot Owl)

This is a large, powerful owl known for its prominent ear tufts and deep hooting call. The feather reflects its apex predator status, built for both power and stealth.

Mottled brown and tawny-buff base with distinct, dark brown horizontal barring; markings appear slightly fuzzy rather than sharp, typical of owl camouflage.

Pennaceous throughout most of the vane with a soft, plumulaceous base; features a specialized 'velvety' dorsal surface (comprising long, soft barbules) designed for silent flight.

Incredibly soft, velvety, and matte; the surface lacks the gloss of hawks, featuring a unique 'fuzz' that dampens the sound of air moving over the wing.

Soft velvety texture, fimbriate (serrated) leading edge for silent flight, and distinct dark brown/tan horizontal barring.

Extremely versatile: found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, agricultural areas, and suburban parks of Butte County, CA.

Year-round resident throughout North and South America, ranging from the subarctic tundra south to the tip of South America.

Apex nocturnal predator; controls populations of rodents, rabbits, and other birds. They are top-tier indicators of ecosystem health.

Long-eared Owl (smaller, different barring pattern) and Red-tailed Hawk (stiffer texture, no velvet surface, sharper barring).

Great Horned Owls have a clenching force of 300-500 psi in their talons, comparable to that of a Bald Eagle, allowing them to take prey as large as skunks and small deer.

Good; shows some natural wear and fraying at the tip and edges, likely a molted feather found after a breeding season.

Butte County ca