Are owls the smartest birds?

Owls and owls are, in most cultures, considered an omen of death. Their nocturnal character and their hooting traditionally give them a gloomy symbolism in Kenya; this belief was also widespread in the Middle Ages in Europe, where owls were associated with witchcraft. Among the Amerindian peoples, they were linked to supernatural dangers; they carried messages from beyond or warnings addressed to people who had broken taboos. Among the Aztecs and the Mayans, they were seen as a symbol of death and destruction; the Aztec god of death, Mictlantecuhtli, was often depicted surrounded by these birds. In Japan, on the other hand, they are still considered lucky charms.

A nice belief?

It is also common in the West to credit owls and owls with high intelligence. It is a legacy of ancient beliefs: among the Greeks and Romans, the owl was the animal of the goddess of wisdom Athena (Minerva among the Romans). She represented knowledge, science, and was associated with the city of Athens. Their large heads, huge eyes and stern gaze continued to give owls and owls the image of particularly wise and intelligent birds. This idea can be found in all kinds of literary works, from medieval Welsh texts to Winnie the Pooh.

Many studies have been done to assess the intelligence of different species of birds from the 20th century. Thus, owls and owls are not among the most remarkable birds in this matter. They do not show great mental and behavioral flexibility, have neither a great memory nor the ability to use tools. Scientists consider pigeons to be intellectually far more advanced than owls.

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