Mr Lake brought this feather home from a nature conservancy.

[LakeArenal]

A low marshy area that has a small creek during snow melt.

Anyone know who it might belong to?

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Collecting bird feathers could cost you $15,000 fine

https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/07/17/drop-that-feather-its-illegal-to-collect-most-bird-feathers/

https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/featherlaw.html

I know it sounds insane, but read the reasons behind it -- and think of the ivorybill --

[oregonjen]

3. Yep

One of my kids’ professors had to get a permit to be able to legally ask his students in his bird class to find a feather and identify it. After the assignment, the students had to take the feathers back to where they found them. There is a list of birds that you may not collect feathers of.

[LakeArenal]

4. Yes I know about specimen feathers. We will put it back.

[Mosby]

5. the law only applies to migratory birds

You might be able to find the species using this tool:

https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/index.php

I'm guessing some sort of owl.

[LakeArenal]

6. Thanks.

Now that we took a picture it will go back no matter whom. No problem.

[CrispyQ]

7. I had no idea!

Thank you for the links.

[Ohiogal]

2. Wow, it's a beaut!

Wish I had a clue!

[csziggy]

8. You need to go to the Feather Atlas!

https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/

Shit - it seems to broken right now.

Here's another site:
http://wakingupwild.com/photography/guides-feathers-skulls-artifacts/bird-feather-identification-guide/

[LakeArenal]

9. Thanks