Parrot Discovers She Has Feet and Immediately Becomes Obsessed
Parents everywhere love watching our little ones discover the world around them, and apparently, that includes our fur babies, too. Meet Poppy, a young Goffin's Cockatoo who recently noticed that she has feet. What followed was a full-blown fascination that's equal parts adorable and hilarious.
Poppy's mom, Melanie, shared the precious video, and it quickly becomes clear that the curious cockatoo is completely captivated by her "new" appendages. She can't stop staring at them, and we can't stop watching her!
@totalmelody21 Not much going on in her head…. #cockatoo#birdsoftiktok#birdtok#goffinsoftiktok#weirdpets
Comedy Scenes - Comical, stupid, odd, lovely (Drumless)(1441321) - Ponetto
Melanie made us laugh in the caption when she pointed out, "Not much going on in her head…." Viewer @chris added, "There is an emergency at the intersection of braincell one and braincell two," and Melanie replied, "Accurate LOL!"
Other commenters also had some funny things to say. @Matt joked, "I think perhaps she just noticed she's not wearing any pants," and @stormypickles said what Poppy was probably thinking: "Well pluck my feathers and call me rotisserie!"
Related: Dad Acts as ‘Backup Dancer' for His Pink Cockatoo and the Internet Can't Get Enough
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Why Parrots Use Their Feet Like Hands
We know we're stating the obvious, but since parrots don't have hands, they rely on their feet instead. Their four toes are arranged in a zygodactyl pattern, two facing forward and two backward, which gives them exceptional grip and coordination.
In fact, Science Advisor notes that parrots are among the most dexterous birds, with highly flexible, maneuverable feet. While most birds rely primarily on their beaks to manipulate objects, parrots have evolved to be "pedal dexterous," meaning they use their feet to accomplish many of the tasks other animals perform with their hands.
According to Chewy, parrots use their feet for almost everything. They hold on to branches and perches, hold food, climb branches, scratch itchy feathers, play with toys, and investigate anything new that catches their attention. We had a parrot growing up (he's 50 now and lives with my sister), and we even taught him to shake hands; a trick that never failed to impress visitors.
After watching Poppy discover her own feet, it's easy to see why parrots are considered some of the most entertaining and smartest companions in the bird world.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM.