Great Horned Owl (Hoot Owl, Cat Owl, Winged Tiger)

A large, powerful owl with prominent ear tufts and yellow eyes. The feather reflects the bird's cryptic camouflage designed to blend into tree bark

Alternating fine horizontal vermiculations (wavy lines) of dusky brown or grayish-black on a cream to buff-white background

Velvety and plumulaceous; features high densities of micro-pennulum (barbule extensions) creating a soft, sound-dampening surface

Velvety, soft, and matte. The surface is designed to minimize friction and air turbulence, and lacks the glossy finish of waterfowl feathers

Distinctive 'salt and pepper' vermiculation pattern and a soft, velvety texture that is unique to the silent-flight adaptations of owls

Extremely adaptable; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, agricultural areas, and urban parks with large trees

Resident across most of North America from the subarctic to Central and South America; generally non-migratory

Apex nocturnal predator; controls populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other birds of prey. Essential for rodent control in many ecosystems

Barred Owl feathers (Strix varia) which have thicker, more distinct horizontal bars rather than fine vermiculations

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 significant wear at the distal tip with some separation of the barbs (vane splitting) likely due to environmental exposure