Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

The Great Horned Owl is a powerful, nocturnal apex predator known for its prominent ear tufts, striking yellow eyes, and deep hooting calls. It is one of the most adaptable owls in the Americas.

Delicate grayish-white base with intricate brown and charcoal speckling, barring, and vermiculation typical of underpart camouflage.

Plumulaceous at the base with loose, downy barbs and a distinct afterfeather, transitioning to a dense pennaceous structure toward the tip with velvety, sound-dampening barbs.

Extremely soft, velvety, and matte in appearance, lacking the rigid sheen of flight feathers to ensure silent flight.

Velvety texture for silent flight, fluffy plumulaceous base with an aftershaft, and complex grayish-brown vermiculated patterning.

Extremely adaptable, inhabiting forests, deserts, wetlands, urban areas, tundra, and agricultural lands.

Widespread throughout North America, Central America, and South America, residing year-round across diverse biomes.

Acts as a top nocturnal predator, regulating populations of rodents, rabbits, and other small to medium-sized mammals.

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

Great Horned Owls can exert a crushing grip force of over 300 pounds per square inch, roughly equivalent to a large dog's bite.

Good condition, largely intact barbs with minimal wear at the tip and a clean, undamaged rachis.