This sulfur crested cockatoo is one of more than 350 species of parrots spread out mostly

across the warm places of the world.

Parrots including this cockatoo have strong hooked beaks that are great for cracking even the toughest seeds.

They also have an unusual foot structure, two toes forward and two toes back, which allows them to climb and to hold on to objects, like food.

And parents are known for their legendary intelligence and ability to talk. What's here?

That's good boy, truck, good parrot.

How many?

How?

That's right, good boy.

Well, you can have a nut.

Go choose your own.

These colorful birds range from extra small to extra large.

The budgie or pet store parakeet is a little bird, but even the budget dwarfs the smallest of parrots,

the three inch long buff-faced pigmy parrot.

It's smaller than most hummingbirds.

On the other end of the scale, some macaws can measure 3.5 feet long from their beak to the tip of their tail.

And a cockapoe of New Zealand may weigh in at almost nine pounds.

Unfortunately, illegal pet sales and habitat loss are threatening more than one-third of the parrot species alive today.

You can learn more about what people are doing to help at birdnote.org.