The budgerigar is a small, slender parrot native to the dry interior of Australia, where wild birds are typically green and yellow with fine black scalloping on the back and wings, quite different from the many bright colors bred in captivity. It is highly nomadic in the wild, forming huge flocks that travel long distances across the arid outback in search of seeding grasses and water, breeding opportunistically whenever conditions turn favorable rather than on a fixed seasonal schedule. Budgerigars feed mainly on grass and other plant seeds, and their fast, undulating flight and constant chattering calls make large flocks conspicuous and noisy. Selectively bred in captivity since the nineteenth century, the species has become one of the most popular pet birds in the world, valued for its intelligence, ability to mimic sounds and wide range of color mutations. Wild populations remain abundant across their native range, fluctuating with rainfall and food availability from year to year.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleSourced to the subject's own account Living or ExtinctSourced to the subject's own accountDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status. Scientific NameSourced to the subject's own accountMelopsittacus undulatus 1 Conservation StatusSourced to the subject's own account Body Size Band Activity Pattern Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceSourced to the subject's own accountWild budgerigars average 18 cm long, weigh 30-40 g, 30 cm in wingspan, and display a light green body colour, while their mantles display pitch-black mantle markings (blackish in fledglings and immatures) edged in clear yellow undulations. The forehead and face is yellow in adults. 1 Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Budgerigar (Wikipedia)
Source Budgerigar (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Budgerigar (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead sentence, binomial name in parentheses
Melopsittacus undulatus
Description section, size and colour paragraph
Wild budgerigars average 18 cm long, weigh 30-40 g, 30 cm in wingspan, and display a light green body colour, while their mantles display pitch-black mantle markings (blackish in fledglings and immatures) edged in clear yellow undulations. The forehead and face is yellow in adults.
- Infobox status field, IUCN assessment Melopsittacus undulatus, BirdLife International 2018, e.T22685223A132056957
system (entity description states it plainly, relationship to people)
Selectively bred in captivity since the nineteenth century, the species has become one of the most popular pet birds in the world, valued for its intelligence, ability to mimic sounds and wide range of color mutations.
In Biome: Grassland, Ecology
Budgerigars are found in open habitats, primarily in scrublands, open woodlands, and grasslands of Australia.
In Biome: Xeric Shrubland, Ecology
Budgerigars are found in open habitats, primarily in scrublands, open woodlands, and grasslands of Australia.
View the Source 2. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
3. GBIF Species API
4. NatureServe Explorer: Melopsittacus undulatus
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
5. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Melopsittacus undulatus (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITESQuote, Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
6. Ecological Society of America, Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 bird functional traits (BirdFuncDat)
Ecological Society of America, Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)Row: melopsittacus undulatus
2089 Nonpasseriformes Psittaciformes Psittacidae Parrots 68 BL3 Melopsittacus undulatus Budgerigar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 PlantSeed Ref_4 A Carolina 0 0 60 40 0 0 0 0 Ref_4 1 Jessica 0 28.99 Dunning08 1
BirdFuncDat.txt row Melopsittacus undulatus, Nocturnal column
Melopsittacus undulatus Budgerigar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 PlantSeed Ref_4 A Carolina 0 0 60 40 0 0 0 0 Ref_4 1 Jessica 0
View the Source 7. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Melopsittacus undulatus
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traitsQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity 21 years (captivity)
Wikidata: Budgerigar
Wikidata Q121221, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: PsittaciformesView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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