Great Horned Owl (also Owl of the Woods, Cat Owl, or Hoot Owl)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae, Genus: Bubo, Species: Bubo virginianus · Strigidae (Typical Owls) · Contour feather (Likely from the lower back, flank, or rump area)
Species
Bubo virginianus (Confidence: High)
Feather Type
Contour feather (Likely from the lower back, flank, or rump area)
Family
Strigidae (Typical Owls)
Shape
Broadly spatulate with a rounded tip; largely symmetrical vane structure indicating a body feather rather than a flight feather.
Size
Estimated at 3-4.5 inches in length. This is consistent with a larger owl body contour feather, which typically ranges from 2.5 to 5 inches.
Rarity
Common; despite their elusive nocturnal nature, they are one of the most widespread and abundant birds of prey in North America.
Color & Pattern
Complex cryptic pattern featuring alternating bands of buff/cream and dark brownish-gray (melanin). The base is a solid smoky gray, while the upper portion displays characteristic 'tiger-stripe' barring typical of large wood-owls.
Barb Structure
Highly plumulaceous (downy) at the base and along the inner barbs, transitioning to pennaceous but remarkably soft at the distal tip. The feather lacks the rigid interlocking typical of waterbirds to facilitate silent flight.
Texture & Surface
Velvety, soft, and matte. It lacks the oily sheen of waterfowl and the stiff gloss of hawks. The surface feels exceptionally downy and light, designed for both insulation and acoustic stealth.
Description
This is a soft contour feather from a Great Horned Owl, a massive bird with a wingspan up to 5 feet and distinctive 'ear' tufts. The bird itself is mottled brown and gray with a white throat patch and deep yellow eyes. Known for its 'hoo-h'hoo-hoo-hoo' call, it is a formidable apex predator capable of taking down prey larger than itself.
Key Features
Characteristic horizontal brown barring on a buff background; extreme softness to the touch; large gray downy base; absence of a stiff vane edge.
Habitat
Extremely versatile; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, subalpine fields, and urban parks or suburban areas.
Geographic Range
Extensively distributed throughout the Americas, from the Arctic tree line in the north to the tip of South America, residing year-round in most locales.
Condition Notes
Good to Excellent. The barring is clear and unfaded, suggesting it was recently molted or shed. No significant fault bars or parasitic damage are visible.
Interesting Facts
Great Horned Owls have a crushing grip of 300-500 psi. They are one of the few animals that regularly hunt and eat skunks because they have a very poor sense of smell.
Ecological Role
Apex nocturnal predator; controls populations of rodents, rabbits, and other birds. They are an 'indicator species' for forest health and biodiversity.
Similar Species
Barred Owl (Strix varia) feathers have broader, more 'blobby' horizontal bars; Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) feathers are smaller with finer, more delicate vermiculation.