Budgerigar

A Budgerigar perched on a tree hollow

Scientific Name: Melopsittacus undulatus

Size: Total Length 18cm

What does it look and sound like?

Since this 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. Naturally, the Budgerigar is green and yellow, with black barring above, and a small patch of blue on its cheek. Yellow birds are an uncommon naturally occurring colour form, as are white, or albino, birds. The male has a darker blue cere.

Young Budgerigars are similar to the adult birds, but are duller and have a dark brown eye (white or yellow in adults).

Budgerigars make up for their small size, by the large flocks that form, occasionally of tens of thousands after a season of abundant rainfall and food. Flocks are usually much smaller, and range from as few as 3 up to 100 or more. Birds in a flock, fly in a characteristic undulating manner. The contact call is a warbling “chirrup”, also “zit” in alarm.

Where is it found?

The Budgerigar occurs naturally throughout most of mainland Australia, but is absent from the far south west, north of Northern Territory, Tasmania and the majority of the east coast.

What are its habitat and habits?

It is nomadic, and large flocks of birds can be seen in most open habitat types, but seldom far from water.

Budgerigars feed almost exclusively 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.

The Budgerigar tends to breed in response to rainfall and, as such, may breed at any time of the year and may produce several broods. The nest is bare cavity in a suitable tree branch or in the trunk. The female sits on the 6 to 8 round white eggs, but both adults care for the young birds. As with other parrots, young budgerigars are born naked and helpless. The chicks leave the nest after about 35 days.

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This species features in my book Australia’s Birdwatching Megaspots

Front cover of Australia's Birdwatching Megaspots book showing a picture of an Eastern Spinebill

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