General

Budgerigar: Small parakeet, mostly green in its wild form, may have varying amounts blue, white, or yellow in feral U.S. populations. Has a characteristic pug face, and most have finely barred upperparts. Sexes are similar; male has blue cere above bill, female has purple-brown. Juvenile has more extensive barring on forehead.

Range and Habitat

Budgerigar: Widespread in the dry interior of Australia, but populations of escaped cage birds now established at many sites around the world including parts of Florida. Preferred habitats include grasslands, open dry woodlands, farmlands, and roadsides.

Breeding and Nesting

Budgerigar: Breeds at almost any time of year, whenever food is abundant. Lays four to eight white eggs in a tree cavity; nests communally and may share cavities. Female incubates eggs for 18 days while male brings her food. Chicks take 35 days to fledge.

Foraging and Feeding

Budgerigar: Feeds on seeds, especially grass seeds, by foraging on the ground along roads or in open grasslands. In its native Australia, large flocks travel across arid areas in search of food and water, with congregations reaching up to 15,000 birds.

Readily Eats

Commercial Mixed Bird Seed

Vocalization

Budgerigar: Call is a musical, warbling "chirrup"; also makes a variety of chattering and screeching.

Similar Species

Budgerigar: None in range.