Great Horned Owl (also nicknamed Hoot Owl or Tiger of the Air)

This is a large, powerful feather from the 'Tiger of the Air.' The Great Horned Owl is a bulky, barrel-shaped bird with distinctive ear tufts (plumicorns) and piercing yellow eyes. Its plumage is a complex mosaic of greys, browns, and whites designed for perfect camouflage against tree bark.

Heavy horizontal banding (barring) of dark chocolate brown or charcoal against a creamy white or pale buff background. There are distinctive mottled tawny/orange-rust patches within the white bands, typical of many North American subspecies.

Pennaceous and tightly interlocked throughout the main vane. Notably, the leading edge features a specialized comb-like fringe (fimbriae) that reduces turbulence, while the surface has a soft, downy nap (flutings) to dampen sound.

Remarkably soft and velvety to the touch. Unlike the sleek, stiff feathers of a hawk, this feather has a "muffler" effect caused by fine pilose hairs on the surface which allow for silent flight.

Bold dark brown barring, soft velvety surface texture, silent-flight fringe on the leading edge (fimbriae), and occasional tawny-orange washes.

Extremely versatile; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, desert scrub, agricultural areas, and even suburban parks or orchards.

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

Apex nocturnal predator. They control populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other birds of prey. Their presence is a sign of a healthy, diverse food web.

Long-eared Owl feathers are similar but much smaller and narrower. Snowy Owl feathers lack the heavy brown barring. Red-tailed Hawk feathers are stiff and lack the soft, velvety silent-flight texture.

Great Horned Owls have a crushing power in their talons of up to 500 psi. They are one of the few predators that regularly hunt skunks, as they have a very poor sense of smell.

Good to Fair. The feather shows some minor 'zipper' separation at the base of the trailing vane and some wear at the tip, suggesting it may have been molted naturally after a full season of use.