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

A magnificent large owl with prominent ear tufts and a white throat patch. The feather is part of a 3-5 foot wingspan that allows this 'Tiger of the Air' to hunt everything from skunks to other raptors. Their flight is famously silent, and their deep 'hoo-h'hoo-hoo' is a staple of night-time acoustics.

Mottled brown and tawny-buff base with distinct dark chocolate-brown transverse bands (barring). The ventral side is lighter and more silvery. Patterning provides excellent camouflage against tree bark.

Densely pennaceous at the core but with a specialized soft, velvety upper surface (fimbriae) and a comb-like fringe on the leading edge to break up air turbulence; the base shows plumulaceous (downy) barbs for insulation.

Extremely soft and silky to the touch (velvety) due to specialized barbicels that dampen sound; matte appearance with no iridescence; stiff rachis for structural integrity during flight.

Soft velvety texture, comb-like leading edge (flutings), and bold, irregular dark brown banding on a buff-tan background; large size and asymmetrical vane.

Highly adaptable: found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, desert canyons, subalpine and arctic tundra, as well as urban parks and residential areas.

Year-round resident throughout most of North America, from the tree line in the Arctic south through Central and parts of South America.

Apex nocturnal predator; controls populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other birds of prey. Their presence indicates a healthy, diverse food web.

Long-eared Owl (smaller, more orange tones), Barred Owl (more regular/clean banding, lacks the tawny-orange wash), and Great Gray Owl (larger, grayer tones).

Great Horned Owls have a crushing power in their talons of up to 500 psi. They are one of the few animals that regularly prey on skunks because they have a very poor sense of smell.

Fair condition; showing significant wear and separation of the barbs (splits in the vane) likely due to environmental exposure or the molting process. Some fraying is visible at the tip.