Owls are intelligent birds, especially skilled at hunting and adapting to their environment. Their brain devotes a large portion to processing vision and hearing, which helps them be precise hunters, especially at night. Certain owl species show problem-solving abilities, such as using tools like animal droppings to attract prey. They also use complex auditory processing (statistical inference) to locate prey accurately. However, while owls are smart in their specialized ways, they are generally not considered as intelligent as other birds like crows, ravens, or parrots, which can perform more complex cognitive tasks like abstract reasoning, future planning, and problem-solving at higher levels. Owls excel in sensory adaptation and spatial memory, making them masters of their hunting territories. They learn quickly in some contexts, such as associating whistles with food rewards. Overall, owls are highly specialized and capable hunters with a unique form of intelligence but are not among the very smartest birds in terms of broad cognitive ability.