Great Horned Owl (also Tiger Owl)

This large, patterned wing feather matches the cryptic plumage of a Great Horned Owl, a powerful nocturnal predator with prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a deep hooting call. Adults have broad wings and exceptionally quiet flight.

Warm brown-gray overall, with dark brown transverse barring and irregular white patches concentrated along the outer vane; the underside is paler and less strongly marked.

Pennaceous vanes with loose, downy bases; fine interlocking barbules and a softened, comb-like leading edge typical of silent-flight owls.

Strong pale central rachis with dense, finely barred barbs; outer barbs are more flexible and separated, while the inner vane is fuller and more compact.

Soft, matte, and slightly plush rather than glossy; the fringed leading edge reduces turbulence and flight noise.

Wing, likely an inner flight feather, inferred from its broad vane, asymmetry, and muted barred pattern.

Large size, pale rachis, brown barring, irregular white flecking, and a soft fringed leading edge are characteristic owl-feather traits.

Forests, woodland edges, deserts, farmland, parks, and urban areas, nesting in large trees, cliffs, or abandoned nests.

Resident across much of North and Central America, from Canada and Alaska through Mexico and parts of Central America; generally nonmigratory.

A top nocturnal predator regulating rodents, rabbits, birds, and reptiles; its broad habitat tolerance makes it a useful indicator of functioning woodland and edge ecosystems.

Barred Owl feathers are usually more finely and regularly barred; Barn Owl feathers are paler and more golden; Eagle Owl feathers may be larger and more heavily patterned.

Great Horned Owls can prey on skunks, rabbits, and other owls, and their specialized wing edges allow remarkably silent flight.

Owl feathers have major cultural significance in many Indigenous traditions, but possession and trade of native owl feathers are generally restricted under wildlife-protection laws; do not collect or sell them without authorization.

Look beneath owl roosts, nesting trees, and favored perches, especially after molting season. Examine the soft leading-edge fringe and compare barring with reference specimens, while following local laws.

Naturally molted and moderately worn, with fraying and missing barbs near the base; no obvious fault bars or oil staining. Condition: Fair.