Australian King-parrot vs Budgerigar
Alisterus scapularis compared with Melopsittacus undulatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Australian King-parrot | Budgerigar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alisterus scapularis | Melopsittacus undulatus |
| Order | Psittaciformes | Psittaciformes |
| Family | Psittaculidae | Psittaculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 18.0 cm (7.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 237.83333333333334 g (8.39 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 | 3-6 | 4-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Budgerigar
Open grasslands, scrublands, and woodland in the Australian interior. Nomadic, following rainfall and seeding events.
Song & Call Comparison
Australian King-parrot
Budgerigar
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
Australian King-parrot
Budgerigar
Interior of Australia, especially arid and semi-arid regions. One of the most popular pet birds worldwide.
Conservation Status
Australian King-parrot
Budgerigar
How to Tell Them Apart
Australian King-parrot
Budgerigar
Wild-type is green with yellow head and barred black scalloping on upperparts. Captive-bred varieties include blue, white, yellow, and many other colors.
Short, downward-curved, olive-grey bill typical of parakeets
About These Birds
Australian King-parrot
The Australian King-parrot is a large, striking parrot found in humid forests and forest edges of eastern Australia. Weighing about 237.8g with a wingspan of 42cm, the male has a brilliant scarlet head and underparts contrasting with dark green upperparts. It feeds on seeds, fruit, and blossoms in the forest canopy.
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.