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

A large, powerful owl with prominent ear tufts and a white throat patch. This feather displays the characteristic 'owl' barring and soft texture necessary for nocturnal hunting.

Mottled brownish-black terminal bands on a base of creamy white and warm ochre/buff. The barred pattern provides excellent camouflage against tree bark.

Pennaceous vane with specialized plumulaceous base; features 'velvety' dorsal surface and fimbriae (comb-like) edges for sound dampening

Extremely soft and velvety to the touch (matte finish); the surface is designed to minimize air turbulence and noise

Velvety texture (pilose), fimbriate (comb-like) leading edge, and distinctive warm buff/ochre coloration with dark brown barring

Highly adaptable, found in deciduous and coniferous forests, swamps, deserts, subarctic tundra, and urban parklands

Year-round resident across North and South America, from the tree line in the Arctic to the tip of South America

Apex predator; regulates populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other birds of prey

Barred Owl feathers (paler, more grey-white base, no ochre) and Long-eared Owl feathers (smaller, narrower)

Great Horned Owls have a crushing power in their talons of up to 500 psi. They are one of the few predators that regularly hunt skunks.

Fair to Good; shows some separation of the barbs (venting) and wear at the tip, likely a naturally molted specimen