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

These are large flight feathers from a powerful apex predator. The Great Horned Owl is known for its prominent ear tufts and yellow eyes, reaching wingspans up to 5 feet.

Mottled brown, buff, and tan with distinct dark transverse barring; underside is lighter cream with more diffused gray-brown bars

Pennaceous structure with specialized velvet-like pile (plumules) on the dorsal surface and a comb-like fringe (flutings) on the leading edge for silent flight

Extremely soft, silky, and matte; lacks the stiffness or gloss of a hawk feather to minimize air turbulence and noise

Leading edge 'fimbriae' (combs), velvet texture on the vane surface, and bold, irregular horizontal barring in earth tones

Found in incredibly diverse habitats including deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, tundra edges, and urban parks

Common throughout North America from the Arctic tree line south to Central and parts of South America; largely non-migratory

Apex predator; regulates populations of rodents, rabbits, and other birds; highly adaptable to human-altered landscapes

Barred Owl (smaller, more regular barring), Great Gray Owl (larger, grayer palette), or female Snowy Owl (whiter, less brown)

Great Horned Owls have a crushing grip strength of 300-500 psi and are one of the few predators that regularly hunt skunks

Good condition but showing some wear at the tips ('fraying'); consistent with naturally molted feathers at the end of a breeding season