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

A thick, mottled feather from a powerful predator. The bird itself is large with prominent ear tufts and piercing yellow eyes

Mottled brown, tan, and cream; features distinct horizontal barring and irregular 'vermiculation' patterns typical of owl camouflage

Pennaceous at the distal end, highly plumulaceous (downy) at the base. Features specialized velvet-like barbules for silent flight

Extremely soft and silky; fuzzy 'combed' surface (fimbriae) designed to dampen sound and provide insulation

Soft, velvety texture, cream-to-chocolate brown barring, and a fuzzy, plumulaceous base for silent movement

Highly adaptable: found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, subalpine fields, and urban parks

Year-round resident throughout North and South America, ranging from the Arctic treeline to the tip of South America

Apex predator; controls populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other birds of prey like hawks

Long-eared Owl (smaller, thinner bars) and Barred Owl (cleaner horizontal/vertical barring without the same mottling)

They have the most diverse diet of all North American raptors, including skunks, as they have a very poor sense of smell

Fair to Good; shows some separation of the barbs at the tip and significant wear on the downy lower section