Great Horned Owl, Tiger Owl

This feather belongs to a powerful nocturnal predator with iconic 'ear tufts.' The bird is large-bodied with mottled brown plumage and a white throat patch.

Pale buff/creamy base color with approximately 5-6 broad, dark brown transverse bars (banding); ventral side is paler with less contrast.

Densely pennaceous with velvety pile on the dorsal surface; the leading edge (outer vane) has a distinct fimbriate or comb-like fringe to reduce turbulence.

Extremely soft, silky, and matte; the surface is covered in a soft "downy" fluting that muffles the sound of air moving over the wing.

Bold dark banding on a buff background combined with a soft, velvety texture and fimbriated leading edge.

Extremely versatile; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, agricultural areas, and urban parks.

Year-round resident across most of North and South America, from the subarctic tree line to the tip of South America.

Apex predator; controls populations of rodents, rabbits, and other birds. Highly adaptable to various food webs.

Long-eared Owl (smaller, different banding frequency) and Barred Owl (grayer tones, different barring pattern on wings).

Great Horned Owls have a grip strength of up to 500 PSI, similar to a large dog. They are also one of the few predators that regularly hunt skunks.

Good; showing some minor wear at the base and tip, but the banding remains crisp and the vane is mostly intact.