Great Horned Owl (also known as Tiger Owl or Hoot Owl)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae, Genus: Bubo, Species: B. virginianus
Family: Strigidae (Typical Owls)
- Shape
- Symmetrical vane with a rounded tip, typical of body contour feathers providing insulation and camouflage
- Size
- Approximately 5 to 6 inches long based on notebook line scale comparison, consistent with a large body or covert feather of a Great Horned Owl
- Rarity
- Common and widespread throughout most of its natural range
Found a feather like this?
Identify any feather from a photo, free.
Description
The Great Horned Owl is a powerful, heavily built apex nocturnal predator known for its prominent ear tufts, striking yellow eyes, and deep resonant hooting calls. It possesses an imposing presence with formidable talons and exceptional low-light vision and hearing.
Colour & Pattern
Rich earthy tones featuring prominent dark brown or charcoal transverse barring alternating with mottled grayish-white and buff bands, providing exceptional cryptic camouflage
Barb Structure
Pennaceous at the tip transitioning smoothly into a plumulaceous (fluffy) base with soft, velvety barbs lacking harsh interlocking hooks on the edges, adapted for silent flight
Texture & Surface
Incredibly soft, velvety, and matte in appearance with specialized velvety micro-structures on the barbs that absorb sound for silent flight
Key Features
Distinctive bold dark barring on a pale background, exceptional softness of the barbs, and rounded contour shape ideal for silent predatory stalking
Habitat
Incredibly adaptable, inhabiting deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests, deserts, wetlands, scrublands, tundra edges, and even urban and suburban parks
Geographic Range
Widespread throughout the Americas, ranging from the sub-arctic regions of Canada and Alaska down through the United States, Central America, and deep into South America
Ecological Role
Acts as a top apex nocturnal avian predator, playing a crucial role in controlling populations of rodents, rabbits, skunks, and other small-to-medium-sized mammals
Similar Species
Barred Owl (Strix varia) and Long-eared Owl (Asio otus). Barred owl feathers tend to feature more streaking rather than distinct horizontal barring, while long-eared owl feathers are smaller and narrower
Interesting Facts
Great Horned Owls are capable of exerting a crushing grip of over 500 pounds per square inch with their talons, roughly equal to the bite force of a large dog. They are also known to readily take over abandoned nests of hawks, eagles, and crows rather than building their own.
Condition Notes
Good condition with intact barbs, clean edges, and vibrant coloration showing minimal wear or sun-bleaching