Great Horned Owl

A large, powerful owl with prominent ear tufts, bright yellow eyes, and a white throat patch. Known for its deep hooting call and aggressive territorial defense, it is a top nocturnal apex predator.

Mottled buff and light brown background with bold, dark brown horizontal barring across the vane; highly camouflaged appearance

Plumulaceous at the base with extensive soft down, transitioning into pennaceous structure toward the tip, featuring velvety barbs characteristic of silent flight adaptation

Extremely soft, velvety, and matte in appearance, lacking the stiffness of typical flight feathers to aid in soundless movement

Soft velvety texture, prominent dark brown horizontal barring against a mottled tawny-buff background, and rounded shape

Extremely adaptable, found in deciduous and evergreen forests, deserts, wetlands, tundra, urban areas, and agricultural fields

Widespread throughout North America, Central America, and South America, residing year-round across almost its entire range

Apex nocturnal predator regulating populations of rodents, rabbits, skunks, and other small mammals

Barred Owl or Short-eared Owl, though Great Horned Owl feathers are typically larger, more robust, and display coarser barring

Great Horned Owls have a bite force of 300 psi and specialized fringed flight feathers that allow them to fly completely silently to ambush prey

Good condition, barbs intact with minimal fraying or wear