Great Horned Owl (Hoot Owl, Winged Tiger)

A magnificent and powerful nocturnal predator, the Great Horned Owl is easily recognized by its prominent ear tufts, bright yellow eyes, and deep hooting call. It is a fierce apex predator of the night.

Rich earthy brown and cream-buff barred pattern, highly mottled with dark brown streaks, typical of cryptic camouflage plumage

Modified plumulaceous to semiplume structure with velvet-like barbules creating a completely silent flight and tactile surface; somewhat frayed at the base

Extremely soft, velvety, and matte in texture, lacking the stiff waterproofing oils of diurnal raptors to ensure completely silent acoustic flight

Soft velvety texture, prominent dark brown and buff barring, and specialized barbules designed for silent flight

Incredibly adaptable, found in deciduous and evergreen forests, deserts, swamps, tundra edges, agricultural areas, and urban parks

Widespread throughout the Americas, from the subarctic regions of Canada and Alaska down through the United States, Central America, and into South America

Apex nocturnal predator regulating populations of rodents, rabbits, skunks, and other small-to-medium mammals

Barred Owl (Strix varia) and Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), distinguished by differing bar widths and warmer brown tones

Great Horned Owls are capable of exerting a crushing foot pressure of over 300 pounds per square inch, roughly equivalent to that of a German Shepherd's bite

Fair condition with some wear and slight fraying visible along the upper plumulaceous barbs