Great Horned Owl (Hoot Owl, Tiger Owl)

The Great Horned Owl is a powerful and adaptable nocturnal apex predator known for its prominent tufts of feathers resembling horns, piercing yellow eyes, and deep hooting calls. It has a bulky build and exceptional silent flight capability.

Muted earth tones featuring grayish-brown barring and speckling over a lighter tan or off-white background, providing exceptional camouflage against tree bark

Modified plumulaceous structure with very loose, hair-like distal barbs lacking strong interlocking hamuli, characteristic of silent-flight adaptations, though some pennaceous structure remains near the tip

Extremely soft, velvety, and matte in texture with no gloss, highly specialized to absorb sound and ensure completely silent flight

Exceedingly soft, velvety texture with frayed-appearing barbules designed for silent flight, combined with subtle gray-brown barring and a flexible shaft

Incredibly adaptable, inhabiting deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests, deserts, swamps, tundra, agricultural areas, and urban parks

Widespread throughout the Americas, ranging from the subarctic regions of North America down through Central America to South America

Acts as a top nocturnal apex predator helping to control populations of rodents, rabbits, and other small to medium-sized mammals

Barred Owl (Strix varia) and Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus), distinguished by different barring patterns and lighter or heavier overall coloration

Great Horned Owls are fierce predators that routinely hunt prey larger than themselves, including skunks, thanks to a poorly developed sense of smell

Good condition with intact structure, though showing normal wear typical of a naturally molted contour feather