An owl"s upright posture, broad head, and forward-facing eyes make it seem almost human. For centuries, people have thought of owls as wise creatures, partly because of their appearance. Although they aren"t necessarily smarter than other birds, owls do possess some amazing bird abilities. There are about 180 species, or kinds, of owls around the world. Eighteen live in North America, where most of them stay in the same region year-round.