budgerigar - Etymology, Characteristics, Habitat and behaviour, Budgerigars in captivity, "Context speaking" budgerigars

A small parrot native to C Australia, and introduced in Florida (Melopsittacus undulatus); common; lives in nomadic flocks; eats grass seeds; nests in tree stumps or logs. It is a popular cage-bird, with many colour variations, but is usually green in the wild. (Family: Psittacidae.)

?Budgerigar Conservation status: Least concern
Budgerigar hen of approximately natural colouration
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Subfamily: Psittacinae Tribe: Platycercini Genus: Melopsittacus Gould, 1840 Species: M. undulatus
Binomial name
Melopsittacus undulatus (Shaw, 1805)

The Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus, nicknamed budgie), the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus, is a small parrot belonging to the tribe of the broad-tailed parrots (Platycercini); Though budgerigars are often called parakeets, especially in American English, this term refers to any of a number of small parrots with long flat tails. The budgerigar is found throughout the drier parts of Australia and has survived in the inlands of that continent for over 5 million years.

Etymology

At least two possible origins for the English name budgerigar have been proposed:

A compound of budgery, "good" and gar "cockatoo" in some Australian Aboriginal languages.

Characteristics

Appearance

Budgerigars are about 18 cm long and weigh 30-40 grams. Wild budgerigars have green underparts and rumps, while the upperparts are barred with black and yellow. Wild budgerigars are noticeably smaller than those in captivity.

Colour Mutations

There are presently at least 32 primary mutations in the budgerigar, enabling hundreds of possible secondary mutations (stable combined primary mutations) &

Each of these mutations is inherited in via one of the following dominance relationships:

Autosomal co-cominant Autosomal complete dominant Autosomal incomplete dominant Autosomal recessive Autosomal polygenic Sex-linked recessive

Because birds have a ZW sex-determination system, sex-linked recessive phenotypes are more common in females than in males, rather than the reverse as is found the more familiar XY determination of humans.

Personality

Budgerigars tend to be very acceptive of other birds when living together in a cage or avairy however, may fight amongst each other.

Habitat and behaviour

Budgerigars are nomadic birds found in open habitats, primarily in Australian scrubland, open woodland and grassland.

Both male and female budgerigars sing and can learn to mimic sounds, although both singing and mimicry are more pronounced in males.

Budgerigars in captivity

The budgerigar is one of the few parrots to be domesticated as a pet. Most budgerigars in the pet trade are not of the show variety and are similar in size and body conformation to wild budgerigars.

Budgerigars can be taught to speak, whistle tunes, and play with humans. A common behaviour is the chewing of material such as wood, especially for female budgerigars.

In captivity, budgerigars live an average of five to eight years, but are reported to occasionally live to 15 if well cared for . The life span depends on the budgerigar's breed (show budgerigars typically do not live as long as the common budgerigars) and the individual bird's health, which is influenced by exercise and diet.

Although wild budgerigars eat grass seeds almost exclusively, avian veterinarians recommend supplementation with foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouted seeds, pasta, whole wheat bread and other healthy human foods, as well as pellets formulated for small parrots.

"Context speaking" budgerigars

In 2001, budgie owner Ryan B.

A budgerigar named Puck holds the world record for the largest vocabulary of any bird, at 1,728 words.