Nyasa Lovebird vs Budgerigar

Agapornis lilianae compared with Melopsittacus undulatus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Nyasa Lovebird Budgerigar
Scientific Name Agapornis lilianae Melopsittacus undulatus
Order Psittaciformes Psittaciformes
Family Psittaculidae Psittaculidae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Least Concern
Length 18.0 cm (7.1 in)
Wingspan 17.9 cm (7.0 in) 30.0 cm (11.8 in)
Weight 34.0 g (1.20 oz) 30.0 g (1.06 oz)
Diet -- Primarily grass seeds and other small seeds. In the wild, feeds on the ground in …
Clutch Size 3-8 4-6
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Nyasa Lovebird
Budgerigar 18.0 cm
Wingspan
Nyasa Lovebird 17.9 cm
Budgerigar 30.0 cm
Weight
Nyasa Lovebird 34.0 g
Budgerigar 30.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Nyasa Lovebird only

Budgerigar only

Budgerigar

Open grasslands, scrublands, and woodland in the Australian interior. Nomadic, following rainfall and seeding events.

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Song & Call Comparison

Nyasa Lovebird

Budgerigar

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Nyasa Lovebird

Budgerigar

Interior of Australia, especially arid and semi-arid regions. One of the most popular pet birds worldwide.

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Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Nyasa Lovebird

Least Concern

Budgerigar

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How to Tell Them Apart

Nyasa Lovebird

Budgerigar

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

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About These Birds

Nyasa Lovebird

The Nyasa Lovebird, <em>Agapornis lilianae</em>, is a member of the family Psittaculidae, the Old World parakeets and lovebirds, and inhabits forest environments in its native range in southern Africa, particularly around Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its conservation status is Near Threatened, with population declines attributed to trapping for the cage bird trade and habitat loss. Unlike several other lovebirds that use tree cavities, the Nyasa Lovebird nests in excavated chambers, typically in termite mounds or earthen banks, with an …

Budgerigar

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.

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Related Comparisons

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