Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Wild Budgerigars
© Guillaume PILLET [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

Did You Know?

The genus name Melopsittacus means "melodious parrot".The species name undulatus means "undulated" or "wave-patterned."

Academic Research

Related publications: Melopsittacus undulatus

Species Profile

Genus: Melopsittacus | Species: undulatus

Size:

18-20cm (7-7.8 in)

Weight:

22-32g (0.8-1.1 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

one, with many colour mutations

Colour Adult:

Both adults yellow with scalloped upper parts, yellow face, lower cheeks tipped violet/blue, more so in the female; black spots under throat; green under parts, blue tail; blue cere in male, brown in female. Bill olive/horn in colour. Eye white.

Colour Juvenile:

Immatures duller; less spots on throat or none at all; yellow forehead barred black; tail shorter. Eye dark brown.

Call:

Quiet warbling to sharp chattering, quiet screech.

Listen Now

Video Links:

Video 1 | Video 2

More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
ML Media Collection Catalogue 8512, Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus, Trillmich, Krisztina, Queensland, Australia, Aug. 23 1974, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Site
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1989.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Parrots: Their Care and Breeding, Low, 1986.
Psittacine Aviculture, Schubot, Clubb and Clubb, 1992.

Wild Budgerigars
© Guillaume PILLET [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

The genus name Melopsittacus means "melodious parrot".The species name undulatus means "undulated" or "wave-patterned."

Academic Research

Related publications: Melopsittacus undulatus

Species Care

Captive Status:

Widespread in captivity.

Longevity:

15 yrs

Housing:

Not less than 76cm (30 in) long.

Diet:

Complete kibble for budgerigars, seed mixture for budgerigars; fresh fruits and vegetables.

Enrichment:

Bathing; foot toys, destructible (non-toxic) toys, non-destructible (non-toxic plastic) toys, food-finder toys, preening toys, different texture and size hanging perch toys, fir branches, push-and-pull toys (sliding up and down), vegetable tanned leather toys.

Nest Box Size:

8" x 6" x 6" (20.3cm x 15cm x 15cm) or 6" x 6' x 6" (15cm x 15cm x 15cm) vertical box.

Clutch Size:

4 to 8

Incubation Time:

18 days

Fledging Age:

30 days

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Wild Budgerigars
© Guillaume PILLET [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

The genus name Melopsittacus means "melodious parrot".The species name undulatus means "undulated" or "wave-patterned."

Academic Research

Related publications: Melopsittacus undulatus

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Unknown, increasing.

IUCN Red List Status:

Least Concern

CITES Listing:

Not listed.

Threat Summary:

Not globally threatened. Large population fluctuations occur during drought periods either from dieoff or migration. Has been helped in some areas by the introduction of watering for agriculture.

Range:

Widely distributed throughout the interior of Australia, but rare in eastern coastal districts and the extreme south west. Introduced in Florida and now number 3000 there.

Habitat:

Found in a wide range of areas in arid interior of Australia, also semi arid and subhumid parts. Some seasonal movements; northward during winter. Found in spinifex, dry mallee and mulga scrub, riverine woodland and farmland.

Wild Diet:

Ground feeders, taking grass seeds and seeds of crop plants.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Gather in large numbers, nest communally, and are frequently found at watering holes in large groups. Most active during day.

Clutch and Egg Size:

4 to 8, rounded eggs, 19 x 14mm (0.7 x 0.5 in)

Breeding Season:

Can take place at any time of year, with pairs capable of producing more than one clutch; nests communally.

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

The genus name Melopsittacus means "melodious parrot".The species name undulatus means "undulated" or "wave-patterned."

Academic Research

Related publications: Melopsittacus undulatus

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