IUCN Least Concern (LC)
Budgerigar
Melopsittacus undulatus
The Budgerigar is a small parrot with a long tail. Wild ‘budgies’ are green-yellow with black barrings. Seen in flocks after rain, they are nomadic.
Since its introduction into captivity, the Budgerigar (or ‘budgie’) has been bred into a variety of colour forms, including pure white, blue, yellow, mauve, olive and grey. In the wild, Budgerigars are small green and yellow parrots, with black barring above, and a small patch of blue on the cheek.
The male has a dark blue cere (skin at the base of the upper mandible surrounding the nostrils). In the female, this is brownish when breeding and light blue otherwise. Young Budgerigars are similar to adult birds, but are duller and have a dark brown eye (which is white or yellow in adults). Their average size is 18cm and their average weight is 28 grams.
The contact call is a warbling “chirrup”; “zit” is given in alarm.
Bird call recorded by: Marc Anderson, XC594062 via xeno-canto.org, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Budgerigars are nomadic and large flocks of birds can be seen in most open habitat types, but seldom far from water. Very large flocks, numbering occasionally in the tens of thousands, are seen after a season of abundant rainfall and food. Flocks are usually much smaller, however, and range from as few as three birds up to 100 or more. Birds in a flock fly in a characteristic undulating manner.
Distribution map
Budgerigars feed almost entirely on seeds, which supply virtually no moisture, so they need to drink fresh water every day to survive. Part of their daily routine is to congregate at waterholes or tanks with other seed-eating birds, such as pigeons, finches and other parrots. Some Budgies hover above the water to drink, and a few may even settle on the water’s surface. So regular are these daily movements, that explorers sometimes followed Budgies because they knew they would lead them to water.
Budgerigars feed almost only on the seeds of native herbs and grasses, such as porcupine grass and saltbush. Seeds are mostly eaten from the ground and the bulk of drinking and feeding activity is in the morning.
Budgerigars tend to breed in response to rainfall, and may produce several broods if conditions permit. The nest is a bare cavity in a suitable tree branch or in the trunk. The female sits on the round white eggs. The clutch size is 6 to 8 eggs, the nestling period is 35 days. Breeding season is any time of the year when conditions are suitable.
IUCN status reflects the conservation status of this species globally.
