Budgerigar
Melopsittacus undulatus
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<birdfyi-bird slug="budgerigar"></birdfyi-bird>One of the most popular pet birds in the world, the Budgerigar is in the wild a small, nomadic parakeet of the Australian interior. Wild-type birds are green with a yellow head and fine black scalloping above, though captive breeding has produced blue, white, yellow, and many other colours. Enormous flocks roam arid and semi-arid grasslands, scrublands, and woodland, following rainfall and feeding on the ground on grass and other small seeds. Cavity nests hold four to six eggs, incubated for about 18 days, with young fledging near 30 days. In the wild, vast flocks produce a continuous roaring chorus of chattering warble; captive birds are capable vocal mimics. The species is classified as Least Concern.
About
The budgerigar is the third most popular pet in the world after dogs and cats, and by far the most common pet parrot. Wild budgies travel in enormous nomadic flocks that can darken the sky. Males can learn to mimic human speech, with one record-holding budgie having a vocabulary of 1,728 words.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Body Length | 18.0 cm | 7.1 in |
| Wingspan | 30.0 cm | 11.8 in |
| Weight | 30.0 g | 1.06 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Wild-type is green with yellow head and barred black scalloping on upperparts. Captive-bred varieties include blue, white, yellow, and many other colors.
Bill
Short, downward-curved, olive-grey bill typical of parakeets
Habitat & Range
Open grasslands, scrublands, and woodland in the Australian interior. Nomadic, following rainfall and seeding events.
Geographic Range
Interior of Australia, especially arid and semi-arid regions. One of the most popular pet birds worldwide.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily grass seeds and other small seeds. In the wild, feeds on the ground in large nomadic flocks following seeding events.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: CV. Incubation: 18 days. Fledging: 30 days.
Clutch Size
4-6
Sound
Song
A rising, chattering 'budgerigar' chatter: rapid series of 'chek-chek-chek' and melodic warbling. Enormous wild flocks produce a continuous roaring chorus. Good vocal mimics in captivity.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Psittaciformes (Parrots) |
| Family | Psittaculidae (Old World Parakeets) |
| Genus | Melopsittacus |
| Species | Melopsittacus undulatus |
Names in Other Languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Arabic | بدجريقة |
| Chinese | 虎皮鸚鵡 |
| French | Perruche ondulée |
| German | Wellensittich |
| Hindi | बजरिगर तोता |
| Indonesian | Burung kesturi |
| Japanese | セキセイインコ |
| Korean | 사랑앵무 |
| Portuguese | periquito-australiano |
| Russian | волнистый попугайчик |
| Spanish | Periquito Australiano |
| Thai | นกหงส์หยก |
| Turkish | Muhabbet kuşu |
Distribution
Budgerigar has been recorded in 23 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Budgerigar eat?
Where does the Budgerigar live?
Is the Budgerigar endangered?
How does the Budgerigar nest?
What does the Budgerigar sound like?
How big is the Budgerigar?
What order and family does the Budgerigar belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Psittaculidae family