Budgies

Born in the outback

The budgerigar, or budgie, is a small parrot native to Australia, where wild flocks roam the dry inland grasslands and scrub looking for seeds and water. In the United States it is often called a parakeet.

Wild budgies are bright green with a yellow face and fine black barring on the head and back. They are small birds, about 18 centimetres long and around 30 to 40 grams, though pet and show budgies are often bigger.

A rainbow of colours

Budgies have been bred in captivity since the 1800s, and breeders have produced a huge range of colours and patterns, including blue, white, yellow, violet, grey and pied birds.

You can often tell adults apart by the cere, the patch of skin above the beak around the nostrils. Adult males usually have a blue cere, while females have a pale tan to brown one. Young birds and some colour varieties can be harder to read.

Company and play

Budgies are flock birds and do best with company. Many owners keep two or more so the birds always have a friend, along with plenty of daily attention from their people.

A roomy cage that allows short flights, perches of different thicknesses, safe toys to chew and supervised time out of the cage all help keep a budgie active and curious. Many budgies learn to mimic sounds and even a few words.

Building trust takes patience. Sitting quietly near the cage, talking softly and offering a favourite treat from your hand helps a new budgie learn that people are safe. Short, calm sessions work better than chasing a bird around the room, and many budgies become confident enough to step onto a finger within a few weeks.

Food and health

In the wild budgies eat mostly grass seeds, but many avian vets suggest pet budgies get a varied diet rather than seed alone, often including formulated pellets and fresh vegetables. Ask a vet about the right mix for your bird.

Birds tend to hide illness, so fluffed-up feathers, changes in droppings or a quiet, sleepy bird all deserve a prompt call to a vet who treats birds. With good care, many budgies live for several years, and some far longer.

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