Papuan King-parrot vs Budgerigar

Alisterus chloropterus compared with Melopsittacus undulatus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Papuan King-parrot Budgerigar
Scientific Name Alisterus chloropterus Melopsittacus undulatus
Order Psittaciformes Psittaciformes
Family Psittaculidae Psittaculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 18.0 cm (7.1 in)
Wingspan 36.8 cm (14.5 in) 30.0 cm (11.8 in)
Weight 164.0 g (5.78 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 -- 4-6
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Papuan King-parrot
Budgerigar 18.0 cm
Wingspan
Papuan King-parrot 36.8 cm
Budgerigar 30.0 cm
Weight
Papuan King-parrot 164.0 g
Budgerigar 30.0 g

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Papuan King-parrot only

Budgerigar only

Budgerigar

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

Song & Call Comparison

Papuan 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.

Geographic Range & Migration

Papuan King-parrot

Budgerigar

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

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Papuan King-parrot

Least Concern

Budgerigar

How to Tell Them Apart

Papuan 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

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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