Great Horned Owl (Hoot Owl, Tiger Owl)

This feather comes from a large, powerful owl known for its prominent ear tufts and deep hooting call. The Great Horned Owl has mottled plumage providing excellent camouflage against tree bark. It has a 3-5 foot wingspan and intense yellow eyes.

Mottled grayish-brown base with thick, dark brown horizontal barring (banding). The bars are somewhat irregular and wavy, characteristic of Bubo virginianus.

The feather possesses a velvety pile on the dorsal surface (frizz/flutings) and soft, filamentous barbules that dampen sound. Plumulaceous (downy) at the base, transitioning to pennaceous toward the tip.

Velvety, soft, and matte. The surface is designed for silent flight, lacking the stiff, glossy texture of diurnal hawk feathers.

Transverse dark brown bars on a buff/grey background; soft, 'fuzzy' texture on the vane surface; thick, pale rachis; rounded tip.

Extremely versatile; found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, deserts, tundra edges, orchards, and urban parks.

Resident throughout North and South America, from the Arctic tree line to the southern tip of South America. They are non-migratory.

Apex nocturnal predator. They control populations of rodents, rabbits, and even other birds of prey. Their presence indicates a healthy, diverse ecosystem.

Barred Owl (Strix varia) feathers have cleaner, more defined white and brown horizontal bars; Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) feathers are stiffer, glossy, and lack the velvety 'fuzz'.

Great Horned Owls have a crushing grip strength 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.

Fair to Good. There is some separation of the barbs (venting) and wear along the edges, suggesting it was a naturally molted feather exposed to the elements.