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

The Great Horned Owl is a powerful, heavily built apex predator of the night, easily recognized by its prominent ear tufts, striking yellow eyes, and deep hooting call. It possesses exceptional hearing and silent flight, allowing it to ambush a vast array of prey ranging from mice to large mammals.

Mottled dark brown, black, and white barring with warm tawny or buff accents, characteristic of mammalian and avian nocturnal camouflage

Modified plumulaceous structure with velvety texture, velvety fringes, and lacking rigid hooklets on the distal edges, resulting in soft, quiet barbs

Extremely soft, velvety, and matte texture with no gloss, adapted for absolute acoustic muffling during flight

Soft velvety texture, lack of rigid hooklets, and intricate dark brown and tawny barring designed for silent acoustic flight and camouflage

Extremely adaptable, found in deciduous and coniferous forests, deserts, swamps, tundra, and urban or agricultural areas

Widespread throughout North America, Central America, and South America, spanning from the subarctic down to South America

Acts as a top nocturnal apex predator controlling rodent, rabbit, and small carnivore populations across diverse ecosystems

Barred Owl (Strix varia) and Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), distinguished by finer barring and different coloration patterns

Great Horned Owls are among the earliest nesting birds in North America, often beginning incubation in January or February, and can exert over 500 pounds per square inch of crushing power in their talons.

Fair condition with visible wear, some frayed barbs along the edges, and minor distortion due to weathering