Great Horned Owl, also known as the Tiger Owl or Hoot Owl

The Great Horned Owl is a large, powerful nocturnal raptor known for its prominent ear tufts, piercing yellow eyes, and deep hooting call. It is a top apex predator with mottled brownish-gray plumage that provides flawless camouflage against tree bark.

Mottled pattern of grayish-brown, dark brown, and white bars and spots, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark, with a pale whitish base

Pennaceous at the distal tip transitioning smoothly into extensive plumulaceous (fluffy) barbs toward the base, typical of owl contour feathers designed for silent flight

Extremely soft, velvety, and matte in texture, lacking the stiff waterproofing oils of waterbirds, specialized for muffling sound during flight

Soft velvety texture, rounded tip, and intricate brownish-gray and white barring and mottling characteristic of large owl body plumage

Incredibly adaptable, inhabiting deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests, deserts, swamps, tundra, agricultural areas, and urban/suburban alleys

Found throughout North America, down through Central America, and into South America; a year-round resident across its entire range

Acts as a vital apex nocturnal predator, helping control populations of rodents, rabbits, and other small mammals

Barred Owl and Snowy Owl feathers, though Barred Owls feature more distinct barring stripes and Snowy Owls are heavily white

Great Horned Owls can exert a crushing grip strength of over 300 pounds per square inch, roughly equivalent to the bite of an adult human

Good condition with intact barbs and minimal signs of wear or fading

West Allis, Wi. In my alley