Question: Can you please identify this feather? It’s a bit ragged and was outside in the rain and weather for quite a few months after I found it because I hung it on my fence. It was found in my yard on the property where I live near Arroyo Grande, CA. The length is almost 23 cm (9 inches). Kim
Answer: It’s hard to be 100% sure, but I think that’s from either a Great Horned Owl, or a Great Grey Owl. They both have feathers with sort of alternating black and white blocks as in your photo. Most birds have the black blocks lined up with the black blocks on opposite sides of the central rachis. But in both of these large owls, the blocks sometimes alternate, as you can see in your photo.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has an online feather atlas that shows many feathers and gives various ways to search for your feather. I’ve copied the photos of Great Horned Owl and Great Gray Owl primaries below. You can go to the atlas yourself by clicking here.
Don’t forget that possessing feathers of native birds is technically against the law, so it’s best to photograph them where you find them and leave them. At the Fish and Wildlife feather atlas it says:
FEATHERS AND THE LAW
The possession of feathers and other parts of native North American birds without a permit is prohibited by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This protects wild birds by preventing their killing by collectors and the commercial trade in their feathers, and extends to all feathers, regardless of how they were obtained. There is no exemption for molted feathers or those taken from road- or window-killed birds. More information on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the list of MBTA-protected species can be found here.
Tom
