Great Horned Owl (also known as Tiger Owl or Hoot Owl)

This is a secondary flight feather from a Great Horned Owl, a large, powerful predator with iconic 'ear tufts' and yellow eyes. The bird has a wingspan of up to 4.8 feet. Its plumage is designed for total silence and maximum camouflage against tree bark.

Mottled and barred with shades of ochre, tawny-buff, and dark umber brown. It features 3-4 distinct dark horizontal bands against a lighter creamy-tan background, providing disruptive camouflage.

Highly specialized; the upper surface is covered in a soft, velvety pile (frizz). The barbs are pennaceous but feature micro-structures that dampen sound. The proximal end displays plumulaceous (downy) barbs for insulation.

Velvety, soft, and matte. Unlike the stiff, glossy feathers of hawks, this surface is 'silent' to the touch due to the specialized fringing on the trailing edge and the dorsal downy coating.

Broad dark bars on a buff background; velvety 'fluff' on the dorsal surface for silent flight; rounded tip; thick pale rachis.

Extremely versatile; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, subalpine fields, and urban parks/orchards.

Widespread throughout North and South America, from the subarctic tree line in the north down to the southern tip of South America. Residents are mostly non-migratory.

Apex nocturnal predator; controls populations of rodents, lagomorphs, and even other birds of prey. Highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation but adaptable.

Barred Owl (Strix varia) feathers have more regular, high-contrast barring. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) feathers are much smaller and more slender.

Great Horned Owls have a crushing power in their talons of up to 300-500 psi, which they use to hunt prey as large as skunks and porcupines. Their flight is virtually silent due to the feather structures seen here.

Fair to Good. There is a noticeable 'fault bar' or gap in the vane near the tip, and some minor fraying on the leading edge. The quill (calamus) appears intact.