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

This feather belongs to the Great Horned Owl, a massive predator known for its 'ear' tufts and yellow eyes. The bird has a wingspan of up to 5 feet and a bulky, mottled brown body designed for camouflage.

Bold horizontal banding (barring) of dark umber brown against a buffy or mottled tan background. The tip features a dark terminal band with a slight white/buff edging.

Pennaceous for the top two-thirds; plumulaceous (downy) at the base for insulation. Notably, the barbs have a velvety 'fringe' or pile that aids in silent flight, a hallmark of Strigiformes.

Extremely soft and velvety to the touch. The surface has a matte appearance with 'fimbriae' (hairs) that break up air turbulence to eliminate sound.

Bold, regular dark brown barring on a buff background; velvety texture (silent flight adaptation); wide, rounded rectrix shape.

Highly adaptable; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, desert scrub, parks, and suburban areas near lakes or open hunting grounds.

Year-round resident across most of North and South America, from the subarctic tundra of Canada to the southern tip of Argentina.

Apex nocturnal predator. They control populations of rodents, skunks, and even other birds of prey. Their presence indicates a healthy local food web.

Long-eared Owl feathers are similar but smaller and narrower. Barred Owl feathers have more uniform, grayish-brown barring without the rich buff/orange tones seen here.

Great Horned Owls have a crushing grip of 300-500 psi, strong enough to break the spine of a large rabbit or even a skunk—one of their favorite prey items.

Fair to Good. The feather shows some wear and separation at the plumulaceous base; the rachis is intact, suggesting a natural molt rather than a predator strike.

In bend or near food and near a lake