Great Horned Owl, Tiger Owl

A small body feather from the powerful Great Horned Owl. The bird itself is a large, thick-bodied raptor with prominent ear tufts and yellow eyes. This specific feather contributes to the owl's 'white bib' or throat patch which is often flared during vocalizations.

Distinct bicolor pattern with a crisp white center strip/tip and soft grayish-brown outer edges. The white is concentrated along the rachis near the tip.

Plumulaceous (downy) at the base with a semi-pennaceous structure toward the tip; velvet-like surface typical of Strigidae to allow for silent flight.

Extremely soft, silky, and matte; designed for sound dampening and insulation rather than water repellency.

Soft texture, bicolor white and grey-brown pattern, and the lack of a stiff, waterproof vane characteristic of non-raptorial birds.

Extremely versatile; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, tundra edges, and urban parks.

Year-round resident throughout North America, ranging from the Arctic treeline south through Central America and parts of South America.

Apex predator; controls populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other medium-sized birds. IUCN status: Least Concern.

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) feathers are usually more orange/buff; Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) feathers are narrower and more streaked.

Great Horned Owls have a bite force of 200-500 psi, comparable to a large dog, which they use to hunt prey as large as skunks and other owls.

Good condition; the barbs appear intact with minimal wear, suggesting it was recently molted or shed during preening.

Near owls