Budgerigars are among the world's most popular pets, second only to dogs and cats, which is hardly surprising. These affectionate and adorable birds are small and inexpensive, and if trained properly, they can mimic human speech. The origin of its official name, "budgerigar," is a mystery, but whatever it's called, this little bird is a charming companion for most pet owners.
However, not all budgies are fun to play with, so make sure you don't encounter any accidents before bringing a budgie home. Here are some important facts about budgies.
01. All budgerigars are parrots, but not all parrots are budgerigars.
A close-up of a budgerigar perched on a tree branch.
Some people refer to budgerigars by their full name (budgerigars), while others call them long-tailed parrots. Although budgerigars belong to the long-tailed parrot family, there are many different types of long-tailed parrots, with a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Some long-tailed parrots (such as the Indian Ring-necked Parakeet) are very large, reaching up to 16 inches in length from head to tail, while budgerigars are much smaller. Due to the significant differences in size and other aspects, it is more accurate to refer to these birds by their true names.
02. They are one of the smallest true parrot species.
Budgerigars at Franklin Park Zoo
They are not the smallest parrots—that distinction belongs to small parrots—but budgerigars are small. Most captive budgerigars have an average length of 7 or 8 inches from beak to tail tip. Wild budgerigars in their native Australian habitat are even smaller.
03. There are two different types
Budgerigar on a branch
Few people realize that there are actually two different types of budgerigars—the traditional Australian budgerigar, and the larger British budgerigar, bred specifically in Britain for performances and the pet trade. While both are clearly budgerigars, they do differ when viewed side-by-side. British budgerigars are typically 1 to 2 inches longer than Australian budgerigars, with larger heads and more fluffy feathers around their faces and crowns.
04. Budgerigars can learn to talk better than some larger parrots.
Budgerigars at their roost
There's no guarantee that your budgie or any other parrot will learn to "talk." However, budgies do have a knack for it, and often they speak more clearly and with a wider vocabulary than larger parrots like macaws and cockatoos.
Although budgies have soft, hoarse voices, they have an impressive ability to understand and use human words and phrases, sometimes even in appropriate context. They are a great option for those just starting out with birds and wanting a talking parrot.
05. Green is the only natural color of budgies.
Grey budgies separated from green budgies
While people are used to seeing budgies of various colors for sale in pet stores, the only natural color for wild budgies is yellow/green. All other budgies, including blue and white budgies, are color mutations bred specifically for the pet trade. These birds have no problems, but don't expect to see blue budgies in the wild.
06. Try a diverse diet
Close-up of a budgerigar eating fruit
Because of their small size, budgerigars are relatively inexpensive to care for and feed. However, contrary to popular belief, a diet consisting solely of seeds is not good for small birds like budgerigars and can even lead to health problems. Instead, veterinarians recommend a diet for budgerigars that includes pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables, including leafy greens. Small amounts of seeds can be given as part of their diet, as long as their primary food base is pellets, vegetables, and small amounts of fruit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is my budgie?
There are several ways to determine the age of a budgie:
Look at the stripes on its head: if they extend to its beak, it's three to four months old.
Check the color of its beak: a dark (such as black) beak indicates that your budgie is less than 12 weeks old.
Next, look at your bird's eyes: black eyes with no visible iris indicate the bird is less than five months old. If the budgie has a white iris ring, it is at least eight months old.
What are the differences between budgies and long-tailed parakeets?
All budgerigars are long-tailed parrots, but not all long-tailed parrots are budgerigars. The most popular long-tailed parrot is the budgerigar, also known as the budgerigar. Budgerigars are the most common long-tailed parrots and are native to Australia.
How can I help a budgie that is molting?
If your budgie is molting, it will be itchy. Give your child a shallow dish of water to bathe itself. You can also spray it with a plant sprayer.
