Great Horned Owl (Hoot Owl, Tiger Owl)

The Great Horned Owl is a powerful, heavily built apex predator known for its prominent ear tufts, piercing yellow eyes, and deep hooting call. It is a nocturnal hunter capable of taking prey much larger than itself.

Muted earth tones featuring alternating bars of dark brown, grayish-tan, and buff cream across a pale background, typical of cryptic camouflage.

Pennaceous vane with specialized velvety, comb-like barbules (fringe) that absorb sound to enable silent flight; intact barbs with minor wear at the base.

Soft and velvety to the touch due to specialized micro-structure of barbules, completely matte to absorb light and sound.

Distinctive velvety, soft-edged barbs designed for silent flight combined with bold, horizontal dark brown and buff barring across a pale background.

Incredibly adaptable, found in deciduous and coniferous forests, deserts, wetlands, agricultural areas, tundra edges, and urban parks.

Widespread throughout North America, Central America, and much of South America, residing year-round across diverse climates.

Acts as an apex nocturnal predator controlling populations of rodents, rabbits, skunks, and other small-to-medium mammals.

Barred Owl (Strix varia) and Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus), but distinguished by specific bar width, coloration, and velvet texture.

Great Horned Owls possess asymmetrical ear openings for pinpoint sound localization in total darkness and can exert a crushing grip force of over 300 psi.

Good condition with minor fraying at the base; shows slight fading consistent with natural outdoor exposure but structurally sound.