Great Horned Owl (also known as Tiger Owl or Hoot Owl)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae, Genus: Bubo, Species: Bubo virginianus · Strigidae (Typical Owls) · Secondary Flight Feather (Remex); likely from the inner wing area.
Species
Bubo virginianus (Confidence: High)
Feather Type
Secondary Flight Feather (Remex); likely from the inner wing area.
Family
Strigidae (Typical Owls)
Shape
Broad and slightly asymmetrical with a rounded tip. The trailing edge is significantly wider than the leading edge, typical of secondary feathers.
Size
Estimated at 7-9 inches (18-23 cm) in length. This is consistent with the secondary feathers of a large Bubo species where secondaries range between 6.5 and 10 inches.
Rarity
Common; one of the most widespread and successful birds of prey in the Americas.
Color & Pattern
Base color is a creamy white to pale buff. It features distinct, wide horizontal banding (barring) in a warm grayish-brown. The bars are slightly wavy and have soft, diffused edges typical of owl plumage.
Barb Structure
Pennaceous upper half with a soft, velvet-like fimbriate upper surface; plumulaceous (downy) at the base. Includes specialized 'soft' barbicels that reduce air turbulence for silent flight.
Texture & Surface
Extremely soft, silky, and matte. The surface has a unique 'velvety' pile that serves as an acoustic muffler. It lacks the glossy, stiff texture of hawk or eagle feathers.
Description
A magnificent large owl with prominent ear tufts and a powerful build. They are nocturnal predators with a wingspan of up to 5 feet. Their plumage is a complex camouflage of mottled browns, grays, and whites, as reflected in this beautifully barred flight feather.
Key Features
Soft fimbriate (velvet) texture for silent flight, broad rounded shape, and distinct wide brown barring on a buff/white background.
Habitat
Highly adaptable: found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, subarctic tundra, agricultural areas, and even urban parks.
Geographic Range
Widely distributed throughout North and South America, from the northern tree line in Alaska and Canada south to the tip of South America.
Condition Notes
Good condition. The barbs are mostly intact with minor 'splits' near the mid-vane. The calamus (quill) is clear, suggesting it was naturally molted rather than pulled.
Interesting Facts
Great Horned Owls have a crushing grip of over 300 pounds per square inch, and they are one of the few predators that regularly hunt skunks due to their poor sense of smell.
Ecological Role
Top-tier nocturnal predator. They control populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other birds of prey. They are vital indicators of ecosystem health.
Similar Species
Barred Owl (Strix varia) feathers have more uniform, darker brown bars and a different overall size. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) feathers are much whiter with thinner markings.