Great Horned Owl (also known as Tiger Owl or Hoot Owl)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae, Genus: Bubo, Species: Bubo virginianus · Strigidae (Typical Owls) · Contour feather (Body feather), likely from the breast, flank, or upper wing covert.
Species
Bubo virginianus
Feather Type
Contour feather (Body feather), likely from the breast, flank, or upper wing covert.
Family
Strigidae (Typical Owls)
Shape
Broadly rounded and nearly symmetrical vane, typical of body contour feathers rather than flight feathers.
Size
Approximately 3 to 4 inches in length; width is roughly 2 inches at the widest point. Consistent with larger torso feathers of this species.
Rarity
Common; despite their elusive nocturnal nature, they are one of the most widespread and successful raptors in the Western Hemisphere.
Color & Pattern
Mottled brownish-buff with distinct transverse dark brown bars. The base is creamy white. The patterns create a 'broken' visual effect designed for camouflage against tree bark.
Barb Structure
Highly specialized; distal barbs are pennaceous but extremely soft, featuring a velvety 'fringe' or 'bloom'. Proximal portion is heavily plumulaceous (downy) for insulation.
Texture & Surface
Velvety, soft, and silent to the touch. It lacks the stiff, glossy 'snap' of a hawk or falcon feather, appearing matte and fuzzy due to specialized sound-dampening structures.
Description
This is a soft, barred feather from the Great Horned Owl, a massive raptor known for its 'horns' (ear tufts) and deep hooting. The bird itself is a powerful predator with a wingspan up to 5 feet, featuring yellow eyes and a white throat patch.
Key Features
Broad transverse dark brown bars on a buff background, velvety 'soft-touch' surface, and a very large, fluffy downy section at the base of the feather.
Habitat
Extremely versatile; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, tundra edges, and even urban parks or suburban backyards.
Geographic Range
Resident throughout North and South America, from the subarctic tree line in the north to the southern tip of South America.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good; the feather shows significant 'zipper' separation (parted barbs) and some fraying at the tip, suggesting it may have been molted some time ago or suffered weather wear.
Interesting Facts
Great Horned Owls can apply up to 300 psi of pressure with their talons. They are also one of the few animals that regularly hunt and eat skunks because they have a poor sense of smell.
Ecological Role
Apex predator; controls populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other birds of prey. They are critical for maintaining the balance of local small mammal populations.
Similar Species
Barred Owl feathers are similar but usually have cleaner, more vertical-looking patterns on the breast. Red-tailed Hawk feathers are much stiffer and lack the velvety texture.