Budgerigar – A very popular bird

Budgerigar’s are often referred to as budgies.  These small colorful birds are extremely common in pet shops and are thought of by the novice bird consumer as the common pet parakeet. You can find them almost anywhere.

The Budgerigar is common in the drier parts of Australia and have been cross bred into a variety of colors including blue, white, yellow and grey. They are very popular as pets because of their small size, low cost and ability to mimic some human speech.

Budgerigar Characteristics

• One of the unique characteristics of the Budgerigar is the zebra striping on the head.
• These birds although small in stature are very popular as they can be tamed and are quite enjoyable as a pet.
• They can live up to 20 years but normally live for  10-15 years.
• The Budgerigar is a small bird weighing in at only 1-1.4 oz. and wing span of only 10-14 inches.
• Budgies are very social animals, so playing with them and talking to them will pay off in the long run.
• The Budgerigar is very easy to care for as they are mainly seed eaters and there are a number of birdseed producers that provide seed mixes specifically for this breed of bird.
• Another situation that is easily resolved with the budgerigar is their cages are not huge and in most instances can just be set on a counter.  In addition, because the cage is lightweight, they can be carried around the house to where the family is congregating and thereby can be a part of family activities.

Budgerigar Availability

The budgie or common parakeet is not anywhere near extinction. A visit to any reasonably sized pet store will reveal an abundance of these feathered creatures. One of the most difficult tasks of the budgerigar buyer is to select the actual bird. Many times you will find these birds in stores as flocks inhabiting a single cage. This is fine for the bird as a social creature, but keep in mind that you will be taking the bird away from his or her social network which may result in some less than desirable behavior at the outset. However, if you take the time, and talk to the budgerigar, and play with them, they normally can be tamed.

So if you’re looking for a fun, inexpensive feathered friend to bring into the home, the Budgerigar should be on your short list.