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

This is a large, powerful owl with prominent ear tufts and yellow eyes. The feather reflects its cryptic camouflage, designed to blend into bark. The Great Horned Owl is a top-tier nocturnal predator with a wingspan of up to 5 feet.

Mottled brown, tan, and cream-white. The pattern consists of 'bottled' or marbled barring. The light-colored patches are characteristic of the mottled under-wing or secondary plumage of the species.

Pennaceous at the top with a distinctively soft, velvet-like 'fimbriae' or fringe on the leading edge to dampen sound. The base features a significant plumulaceous (downy) section for insulation.

Extremely soft and velvety to the touch. This 'softness' is a specialized adaptation for silent flight, as it breaks up airflow and prevents the whistling sound common in other birds.

The most diagnostic feature is the 'velvet' texture on the vane surface and the specialized comb-like fringe on the outer edge, which is unique to owls.

Highly adaptable; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, orchards, agricultural areas, and even suburban parks or deserts.

Extremely widespread across North and South America, ranging from the Arctic treeline in the north to the Straits of Magellan in the south.

Apex nocturnal predator. They control populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other birds of prey. They are vital for maintaining the balance of local ecosystems.

Barred Owl (has more distinct, regular transverse brown-and-white bars) and Long-eared Owl (smaller, thinner feathers with more orange/buff tones).

Great Horned Owls can apply up to 300 pounds per square inch of pressure with their talons, and they are one of the few animals that regularly hunt and eat skunks because they have a poor sense of smell.

Good condition. The barbs are mostly intact, though some minor fraying at the tip suggests it may have been molted naturally at the end of a breeding season.