Moluccan King-parrot vs Budgerigar

Alisterus amboinensis compared with Melopsittacus undulatus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Moluccan King-parrot Budgerigar
Scientific Name Alisterus amboinensis Melopsittacus undulatus
Order Psittaciformes Psittaciformes
Family Psittaculidae Psittaculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 18.0 cm (7.1 in)
Wingspan 41.0 cm (16.1 in) 30.0 cm (11.8 in)
Weight 154.0 g (5.43 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 2 4-6
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Moluccan King-parrot
Budgerigar 18.0 cm
Wingspan
Moluccan King-parrot 41.0 cm
Budgerigar 30.0 cm
Weight
Moluccan King-parrot 154.0 g
Budgerigar 30.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Moluccan King-parrot 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

Moluccan King-parrot

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

Moluccan King-parrot

Budgerigar

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

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Moluccan King-parrot

Least Concern

Budgerigar

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How to Tell Them Apart

Moluccan King-parrot

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

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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