INTODUCTION: The budgie (also known as Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus, parakeet, shell parakeet or budgerigah) is actually part of a tribe of parrots referred to as “Broad-tailed Parrots”. Budgies are social animals and enjoy the company of other budgies and humans;
HABITAT: Budgies are usually found in a wide range of areas in the dryer interior of Australia, but they can also be found in t
he semi arid and sub humid parts. There are some seasonal movements for budgies though, where they can head northward during the winter. If you are in the right climate and right area, Budgies can be found in spinifex, dry mallee and mulga scrub, riverine woodland and farmland. The budgie’s population in the wild is estimated at around 5,000,000. BUDGIES BIOLOGY: A Budgie’s life expectancy is quite varied; on average it seems to be around 4-9 years, however some can live up to 15 years, and some have quite short lives. S*x can be determined by the colour of the budgie’s cere. Males usually have a light to dark blue cere, they are generally easier to train than female budgies. The females can be recognized by their beige/whiteish ceres which usually turn a brown (sometimes crusty) colour when in breeding condition, they can be harder to train than males because they are typically more dominant and stubborn, they are also more vocal than male budgies. BREEDING SEASON: Breeding season can take place at any time of the year, with couples capable of having multiple clutches (each clutch containing 4-8 eggs).
