# Budgerigar (*Melopsittacus undulatus*) The Budgerigar, or budgie, is a small, colorful parakeet. They are friendly and love to chat with their owners! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands and forests - **Also known as:** Budgie, Shell Parakeet ![Budgerigar](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426703/objects/4636.jpg) ## Appearance The Budgerigar is a small, slender parrot known for its vibrant green and yellow plumage in the wild, with characteristic black stripes on its head, back, and wings. It has a distinctive blue cere above its beak. Pet varieties come in many other bright colors, differing visually from their wild ancestors. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Psittaciformes - **Family:** Psittacidae - **Genus:** Melopsittacus ## Interesting facts - Baby budgies are born blind and completely featherless! - Their eyes can see ultraviolet light, helping them find ripe seeds. - They are the third most popular pet bird in the entire world! - Wild budgies gather in enormous flocks, sometimes thousands strong! ## Special abilities - **Mimic Master:** Budgerigars can learn to imitate sounds and human words because of their flexible vocal cords, helping them communicate and bond. - **Desert Navigator:** Budgerigars have excellent eyesight and memory, which helps them find scarce water sources in vast, dry Australian landscapes. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Budgerigars have powerful, pointed wings that allow them to fly incredibly fast and maneuver skillfully through dense vegetation. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 18-20 cm - **Wingspan:** 28-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.04 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-8 - **Incubation:** 17-20 days ## Diet & Feeding Budgerigars mainly eat small grass seeds and sometimes fresh plants. - **Primary Foods:** Grass seeds, Ripening seeds, Sprouting grass, Eucalyptus leaves (minor) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Nankeen Kestrel (*Falco cenchroides*) — hunts them in open grasslands - **Eaten by:** Brown Goshawk (*Accipiter fasciatus*) — preys on small birds - **Eats:** Common Wallaby Grass (*Rytidosperma caespitosum*) — eats its tiny seeds - **Shelter:** [River Red Gum](https://www.snappit.app/explore/river-red-gum) (*Eucalyptus camaldulensis*) — roosts in tree hollows ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Budgerigar? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Budgerigar? 18-20 cm ### What is Budgerigar's wingspan? 28-30 cm ### How much does Budgerigar weigh? 0.03-0.04 kg ### How long does Budgerigar live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Budgerigar move? 50 km/h ### What does Budgerigar eat? Budgerigars mainly eat small grass seeds and sometimes fresh plants. ### Where is Budgerigar usually found? Grasslands and forests ## Where to spot - [African Safari Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/african-safari-wildlife-park) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/natural-bridge-wildlife-ranch) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Peoria Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peoria-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo - [Gulf Breeze Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gulf-breeze-zoo) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Franklin Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/franklin-park-zoo) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo - [Tiergarten Eisenberg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-eisenberg) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Budgerigar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/budgerigar) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Budgerigar: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/budgerigar)