Likely Barred Owl; exact species is uncertain from this single feather.

A hand-held, narrow barred feather with alternating dark and pale bands and a soft-looking base. A Barred Owl is a large, rounded forest owl with brown-and-white barring, dark eyes, and a distinctive “Who cooks for you?” call.

Dark brown to gray-brown with broad pale gray or whitish cross-bands. Lighting and the visible side may affect the apparent colors.

Pennaceous upper vane with loose, downy barbs near the base; fine owl-fringe details are not resolvable.

A slender, pale central shaft divides the patterned vanes; dark and pale bands cross the barbs.

Appears soft and matte rather than glossy, consistent with an owl feather; surface texture cannot be confirmed from a photo.

Probably from a wing, based on its elongated, asymmetric shape; tail or species-level placement is uncertain.

Alternating transverse bands and a downy base suggest an owl feather, but these traits are not enough to confirm Barred Owl over other owls.

Barred Owls favor mature, often moist forests with large trees, but also use wooded swamps and forested suburbs.

Resident across much of eastern North America and parts of the Pacific Northwest; range is expanding westward.

A forest predator of rodents and other small animals, Barred Owls help shape prey populations. Habitat loss and competition with expanding Barred Owls can affect Northern Spotted Owls.

Great Horned Owl and other large owls can have similarly banded flight feathers; compare full feather shape, size, and pattern, and seek expert confirmation.

Barred Owls hunt mainly at night but may be active by day, and their calls include a remarkably varied series of hoots.

Owl feathers have cultural significance in some Indigenous traditions. In the United States, possession of most native owl feathers is generally restricted by wildlife law; do not collect or trade without authorization.

Photograph both sides beside a ruler and retain the exact find location; compare with verified regional feather references rather than relying on banding alone.

Appears intact with no obvious major breaks; freshness, wear, and feather condition cannot be judged confidently from this image.