Though a little creature, the budgie bird is easily one of the most popular pet birds in the world, ranking just behind cats and dogs.
This cute and friendly bird is not only small but very inexpensive, and if well-trained, it can mimic human speech sounds.
The origin of this bird’s formal name, “Budgerigar,” remains a mystery, but no matter what name you choose to call it, this bird is a beautiful companion for both first-time pet owners and others.
Though budgies are affectionate birds, they are not all fun and games, so you must know the basics about them before you go ahead and take one home with you.
All Budgies Are Parakeets, but Not All Parakeets Are Buddies
Some people would rather cash budgie parakeets or call them by their full name, Budgerigars.
While neither of the names is wrong, they are incorrect. Parakeets are of various kinds, and these birds differ in size, color, and shape.
Some parakeets grow to become very large ( like the Indian ringneck parakeet that grows as big as 16 inches when measured from beak to tail), while others are tiny, like the buggies.
Because of the vast difference in the size of the different birds in the parakeet family, it has become more accurate to call them by their actual names.
Budgies Are One of the Smallest Species of Parrot
Budgies are not the smallest birds in the parrot family ( the parrotlet has long claimed that spot ), but they are still quite small.
Most pet budgies grow as big as 7 and 8 inches when measured from the tip of their beak to the end of their tail. Budgies in the wild do not grow up to 7 inches.
There Are Two Different Types of Budgies
Only a few people are aware that there are two distinct types of budgies: the English budgie, which is larger and bred in England specifically for the pet trade and shows, and the traditional Budgerigar, which is a native of Australia.
Though both birds are budgies, they have apparent differences when you view them side by side.
The English budgie bird is usually about an inch or two inches longer than the traditional Budgerigar budgie, and they also have puffier feathers around their face and crown with naturally larger heads.
Budgies Are Capable of Learning to Talk Better Than Some Bigger Parrots
There is no natural or scientific way to guarantee that a budgie, or any other kind of parrot, will learn to speak.
However, budgies have a knack for learning words fast and can also talk more clearly than other bigger parrots, such as cockatoos and macaws.
Building a broader vocabulary than other parrots is the most exciting part of their ability.
Budgies have small and gravely sounding voices, yet their ability to pick up human words and phrases is incredible, and they can use them in a normal context in some cases, which is very interesting for a small bird.
So, a budgie is the perfect feathered friend for people new to having a pet bird and would love to converse with their pet.
Budgies Have Only One Natural Colour, and That’s Green
It is very common to see budgies of different colors in pet shops, and people are getting used to these different colors of budgies so much that they do not know green is the only natural color for this bird.
In the wild, budgies are either yellow or green, but mostly green.
This means that when you see a blue budgie, a white budgie, or budgies of any other color apart from green, the bird is of a color mutation breed designed explicitly for the pet trade.
These budgies that are every other color but green areas are healthy but never expect to see anything like them in the wild.
A Budgie’s Diet Needs to Contain More Than Just Seeds
Because of their small size, budgies are easy to cater to and relatively inexpensive to feed.
However, contrary to what many believe, small birds like the budgie should not be fed with a diet of just seeds, as that can cause health problems.
Feeding your budgie with a diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables supplemented with pellets is perfect.
It’s good to include some seeds in your bird’s diet as long as the fruits and leafy greens are available to help keep it healthy by providing much-needed nutrients.
