Likely Great Horned Owl; identification is uncertain from a single feather. Also called Tiger Owl or Hoot Owl.

The specimen is a long, pale, transversely barred feather with a dark rounded tip. A Great Horned Owl is a large, tuft-eared, mottled owl with yellow eyes, a deep hooting call, and a broad wingspan; the feather alone cannot confirm that species.

Cream to buff ground color with several broad gray-brown transverse bars and a dark brown terminal area. This pattern occurs in multiple owl species and is not uniquely diagnostic.

Mostly tightly interlocking pennaceous vanes, with loose downy barbs near the base; no clear damage or owl-specific edge serrations are visible.

Pale, slender rachis extends well beyond the vane as a bare quill; bars cross the vane, with darker pigment concentrated toward the tip.

Vane looks soft and matte, with compact, smooth-looking barbs; texture cannot be confirmed from a photograph.

Probably wing or tail; the long narrow form and barred pattern fit either, but the photo does not show enough diagnostic structure to decide.

Broad buff-and-brown bars, dark terminal patch, and long exposed pale shaft. These features suggest a large owl but do not reliably identify a species.

If from a Great Horned Owl, habitats include forests, open country, wetlands, and urban edges, with nesting in trees, cliffs, and abandoned nests.

Great Horned Owls are widespread residents across the Americas, from much of Canada and the United States through Central America and parts of South America.

Large owls help regulate rodent and other prey populations and also compete with or prey on other birds. Great Horned Owls are broadly adaptable, though local populations face hazards such as vehicle collisions and rodenticides.

Barred Owl, Great Gray Owl, and other large owls can have similarly barred feathers. Species-level separation usually requires feather position, precise measurements, and comparison with reference specimens.

Great Horned Owls are powerful, adaptable predators that can take prey ranging from rodents to rabbits and other birds. Their soft-edged flight feathers help reduce sound while flying.

Owl feathers have cultural significance in some Indigenous traditions. Many owl species are legally protected; possession or trade may be restricted, so check local laws and do not collect feathers without authorization.

Photograph both sides beside a ruler and record exact length and widest point; note where it was found. Avoid collecting feathers where laws prohibit possession, especially near nests or roosts.

Appears intact and in good condition, with no obvious breaks or severe fraying; age and molt status cannot be determined from the image.