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

A magnificent large owl with prominent ear tufts and piercing yellow eyes. Its plumage is a complex mosaic of greys, browns, and buffs designed for camouflage against tree bark. In flight, it has a broad-winged, short-necked silhouette and an intimidating 4-foot wingspan.

Mottled ochre, tawny, and cream base with 5-7 distinct dark brown transverse bars. The ventral side is paler with a more matte finish.

Densely pennaceous with specialized velvet-like pile (frizz) on the dorsal surface; includes soft, plumulaceous barbs at the base (downy tuck).

Extremely soft and velvety to the touch. The 'velvety' surface serves to dampen the sound of air rushing over the wing, allowing for silent flight.

Transverse dark banding, tawny-orange wash, and a specialized velvet texture on the vane surface to muffle sound.

Extremely adaptable; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, subalpine tundra, and urban parklands.

Year-round resident across North and South America, ranging from the Arctic tree line to the southern tip of South America.

Apex nocturnal predator; controls populations of rodents, skunks, and even other birds of prey like Red-tailed Hawks.

Long-eared Owl feathers are smaller and narrower; Barred Owl feathers have cleaner, more contrasting white-and-brown chocolate bars without the tawny-orange wash.

Great Horned Owls can exert over 300 pounds per square inch of pressure with their talons, enough to sever the spine of large prey like skunks and rabbits.

Good condition; minor fraying at the trailing edge (fimbriae) which is actually a natural adaptation for silent flight rather than damage.