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 an inner secondary or tertial based on curvature and size.
Species
Bubo virginianus
Feather Type
Secondary Flight Feather (Remex); likely an inner secondary or tertial based on curvature and size.
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 flight feathers.
Size
Estimated at 4.5 to 5.5 inches in length. This is consistent with the smaller secondary/tertial feathers of a Great Horned Owl, which usually range from 4 to 9 inches depending on position.
Rarity
Common; they are one of the most widespread and successful raptors in the Americas.
Color & Pattern
Mottled brown and tawny-buff base with distinct dark brown transverse banding (bars). The underside is paler than the top. The banding is slightly irregular, creating the 'tiger' camouflaged appearance.
Barb Structure
Pennaceous structure with a specialized velvety (plumulaceous) surface on the dorsal side. Includes a 'fimbriate' or hair-like fringe along the trailing edge, which is an evolutionary adaptation for silent flight.
Texture & Surface
Silky, soft, and velvety to the touch. The feather lacks the stiff, glossy 'snap' of a hawk or falcon feather, having a matte finish and extreme flexibility to muffle sound.
Description
This feather belongs to the Great Horned Owl, a massive, powerful raptor known for its prominent ear tufts and deep, booming hoot. The owl itself stands up to 2 feet tall with a 4-foot wingspan. Its plumage is a complex mix of brown, gray, and black used for cryptic camouflage against bark.
Key Features
Soft, velvety dorsal surface; hair-like fringe on the trailing edge; distinct transverse brown bands; broad, rounded profile.
Habitat
Extremely versatile; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, orchards, agricultural areas, urban parks, and desert canyons.
Geographic Range
Resident year-round throughout North America from the Arctic tree line south through Central and parts of South America.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good. The feather shows significant mechanical wear and separation of the barbs (fraying) along the lower trailing edge, likely from age or contact with vegetation before molting.
Interesting Facts
Great Horned Owls are capable of taking down prey larger than themselves, including skunks, which they hunt frequently because they have a very poor sense of smell.
Ecological Role
Apex predator; they control populations of rodents, rabbits, and other birds. They are an essential part of the forest food web.
Similar Species
Barred Owl (Strix varia) feathers are similar but typically have more distinct, high-contrast white and brown bands and lack the deep tawny-orange tones often seen in Bubo virginianus.