Budgerigar vs Cockatiel
Melopsittacus undulatus compared with Nymphicus hollandicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Budgerigar | Cockatiel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melopsittacus undulatus | Nymphicus hollandicus |
| Order | Psittaciformes | Psittaciformes |
| Family | Psittaculidae | Cacatuidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 18.0 cm (7.1 in) | 32.0 cm (12.6 in) |
| Wingspan | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) | 40.0 cm (15.7 in) |
| Weight | 30.0 g (1.06 oz) | 90.0 g (3.17 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily grass seeds and other small seeds. In the wild, feeds on the ground in … | Seeds, grain, berries, and plant material. Forages on the ground in open areas. In captivity, … |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 1-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Budgerigar
Open grasslands, scrublands, and woodland in the Australian interior. Nomadic, following rainfall and seeding events.
Cockatiel
Open arid and semi-arid habitats including scrubland, farmland, and woodland near water in Australia.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Cockatiel
A loud, whistled 'weet' or 'weeeet'. Males whistle a melodic series; contact call is a high nasal 'ny'. Capable of mimicry in captivity. Song is relatively simple but pleasant.
Geographic Range & Migration
Budgerigar
Interior of Australia, especially arid and semi-arid regions. One of the most popular pet birds worldwide.
Cockatiel
Interior of Australia, generally avoiding coastal areas. The second most popular pet bird worldwide.
Conservation Status
Budgerigar
Cockatiel
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Cockatiel
Wild-type males are grey with white wing patches, a yellow face, and bright orange cheek patches. Females are duller with barred tail undersides. Many captive color mutations exist.
Short, curved, grey bill
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.
Cockatiel
The cockatiel is the smallest member of the cockatoo family and one of the most popular pet birds globally. These gentle, intelligent parrots can learn to whistle tunes and mimic sounds. Wild cockatiels are nomadic, traveling in flocks following food and water availability across the Australian outback.