The full name of this bird species is translated as “singing budgerigar”. Before starting such a pet, many decide to get acquainted with the types, habits and requirements of care. The reason for this is that the parrot in the house is a big responsibility. Therefore, the choice of birds should be approached with all seriousness.
Homeland of budgies
The birthplace of budgies living in the wild is Australia. Tall grass, trees and shrubs are a favorite nesting place for these birds. They stray in flocks and all the time fly from place to place, looking for food. In flight, budgies reach a very high speed and can cover a huge distance in a day.
Joseph Banks first met these parrots back in 1770, when he traveled with the explorer and explorer James Cook.
What types of budgies exist?
Today, there are more than 150 species of budgies. By their nature, they were originally grassy-green in color. However, as a result of breeding and breeding work, various color variations appeared.
All budgies are divided into:
- Plain (the predominance of one color in the color).
- Multi-colored.
- Crested.
In addition, two separate subgroups are often distinguished, which include albinos (the color is pure white) and lutinos (the color is pure yellow). Lutinos on plumage have no wavy pattern and red eyes.
Color Details
As stated above, in the wild of Australia, budgies were light green in color. Now, when we start talking about the color of these birds, it will be more correct to separate them according to the combined characteristics of the color of plumage, and not just by color. Thus, two main groups of birds can be distinguished: multi-colored and one-colored.
One-colored budgies in the plumage color dominates one dominant color. Often among them there is blue or green. However, the color of budgies in this group can be white or yellow (feathers will be slightly wavy). It can also be gray, and then the parrots will cast in a darker, even black color.
In multicolor budgies, the color mainly consists of two primary colors. They are distributed along the plumage very evenly, and therefore it is very difficult to say which one prevails. Multicolor parrots are:
- Speckled (their color is randomly distributed in plumage). Parrots that have a white rim around their eyes are called dominant, and those who do not have it are called recessive.
- Harlequins (the colors of their plumage on the chest and abdomen are clearly distinguished). Harlequins with a blue chest and a yellow stomach are most often found. When determining a parrot for a subgroup of harlequins, only the color of the abdomen and chest is taken into account, and not, for example, the back and chest or wings and chest.
- Penguins (they have a clearly defined border color that runs throughout the body). They were so praised for their resemblance to penguins within the borders of the color: the head, back and wings are covered with plumage of one color, and the neck, chest, stomach and undertail are covered with another.
There are also crested budgies, but in this case, the division does not occur in color. The main sign of these birds is the crest on the head, while the colors are not taken into account.
WBO parrot colors
There is another division of budgies in color. It was proposed by WBO, the World Organization of Budgerigar Breeders, which was created in 1994.
According to the standards developed by this organization, colors based on genetic laws are distinguished. It also gives a classification to other possible color mutations.
Light and dark shades of the green color of budgies are considered standard. Also, parrots of this group can be olive, gray-green, yellow, blue, gray, violet, mauve and cobalt (dark blue).
If the color of the parrot does not belong to those listed above, then, according to the standards, we are talking about genetic mutation.
Parrot Color Description
The yellow budgerigars on the chest, naduvstvo, barrels and abdomen plumage of light yellow color. Green inclusions are completely absent. The eyes are black with a white iris.
The color of the green budgerigars has a bright color, similar to fresh grass. Blue parrots are painted in sky blue. The color of the blue budgies is deep dark blue, and the tail feathers are much darker.
Albinos, or white budgies, have pure white plumage without interspersing. Their paws are saturated pink, and their red eyes are framed by a snow-white iris.
It is believed that pink budgies do not exist, but this is a misconception. A beautiful pinkish tint is obtained by crossing parrots with white and purple shades of plumage. Professional budgerigar breeders are of the opinion that, using a combination of violet and albino factors, albinos also appear that have a pink hue on the feathers of the back of the lower body.
There is an opinion that the nature of the feathered pet depends on the color of the plumage. This is actually a common mistake.
Rainbow parrots
There are many types of color mutations. Sometimes the rainbow color of budgies is also referred to them. They have an unusual combination of waves and colors, and among their representatives there are individuals with a very bright color.
In fact, the rainbow variety of parrots did not arise from a mutation. It was formed as a result of a combination of colors of the lines of undulation and plumage. The rainbow appearance was formed due to the characteristics of the yellow-headed, white-winged and opaline undulations of parrots. In the WOB classification, this bird was recorded under the name yellow-faced opaline white-winged blue.
An unusually beautiful view of a rainbow parrot was brought up by a breeder who lives in Kent (England). The color of his parrot is considered truly rainbow. To get such a colorful combination, he crossed the following parrots:
- Australian white-winged bird.
- Bird of the Australian Opaline Mutation.
- English yellow-faced bird of the second type.
Despite the colorfulness and beauty of the color, this version of the WOB parrot did not recognize. To date, most rainbow parrots are bred using yellow-faced birds of the first type. The individuals that are obtained have all the desirable set of qualities for exhibitions, but they do not have the juiciness of true rainbow parrots.
Currently, there are many ways to breed a pair of birds, the offspring of which will be rainbow parrots. One of them is the mixing of a blue opaline male with a white-winged female and a white-winged male with a blue opaline female. After bringing together the offspring of these two pairs, it is highly likely that they will have rainbow offspring.
Plumage of budgies
These birds fly very well thanks to their pointed wings.
The feathers of the budgerigar help maintain a constant body temperature and protect against skin damage. The feather of a parrot consists of a strong shaft and a wide fan.
Often on the wings of a bird there are up to 20 fly feathers of different lengths. The feathered tail reaches 9.5 cm in length and consists of 12 tail feathers.
Shedding is the usual process of changing the feather cover of a parrot. It can be periodic and juvenile, that is, molting of young animals.
Beak of a healthy parrot
The beak of a budgie is distinguished by its strength. It is covered with a strong horn substance that protects against damage and chips. At the base of the beak there is a wax and nostrils.
Due to its structure and mobility, the beak of the budgerigar perfectly copes with breaking and crushing shoots, seeds and leaves of plants. In addition, with its help, a bird can carry objects and climb trees. During the attack, the beak becomes a reliable defense against enemies.
Baby parrots
A distinctive feature of the budgie boys is their wax. They have rich blue or purple. The crown of the male is larger than that of the female, and she seems more flattened.
The behavior of males is also different from the behavior of females. Their some features:
- Males are characterized by increased activity and mobility. They are interested in studying the environment and are trying to imitate their masters. Boy parrots are often noisy and talkative.
- Like males of other animals, males are more aggressive than females. Especially when they protect their territory or the female. Their aggressiveness increases during mating.
- The manner of singing of males is distinguished by its duration, melody and intricacy.
- Experts believe that male budgerigars are easier to learn to speak than females. The main rule in this case is patience, care and understanding, then the result will not be long in coming.
- Boy parrots adapt much faster to changing hosts. By biting a person’s hands, they demonstrate their “importance” and try to attract attention.
Parrots girls
In girls of the budgerigar, the color of the wax is lighter than in boys. It can be gray, beige or light blue. In addition, their nostrils are bordered with a light border. Their paws are pink.
The behavior of girls in the budgerigar differs significantly from how boys behave. They are characterized by such features:
- Females behave more calmly and restrainedly. Aggression at them is shown only during the mating season.
- They are prone to cleanliness and order. Often this is manifested in the fact that females throw out objects that they think are superfluous from cells.
- Songs of girl parrots usually do not differ in their duration and intricacy.
- If two budgerigars are sitting in a cage and it is difficult to determine their gender, you should pay attention to their behavior during the breeding season. Females usually do not show initiative, but only favorably and restraintly with partners.
- Girls of these parrots are more difficult to learn to talk. In order for a female to start talking, it is necessary to exert much more effort than when training a male.
- Females are not very friendly and get used to the new owners for a long time. Unlike males, they bite strongly and sometimes to blood.
Budgerigar lifespan
Before starting such a bird, it is better to know in advance how many budgerigars live at home.
In the wild, budgerigars do not live very long - from 4 to 6 years. Very rarely, individuals who live up to 8 years are found. The reason for this is adverse weather conditions, possible hunger and predators. That is why it is believed that talking in birds is more suitable for life in captivity.
At home, budgerigars can live up to 15 years, and some individuals can live up to 20. How long a budgerigar will live at home depends on what kind of maintenance, care and heredity will be like. If you make enough effort, the bird will live in the house for a very long time.
Factors Affecting Life Span
If the budgerigar does not have bad heredity (any diseases), mainly how many budgerigars live at home is affected by the comfort of their conditions. This includes high-quality food, and a balanced diet, and the presence of a friend or partner. The budgerigar males live together, but the females, on the contrary: in addition to the fact that they can conflict with other females, they can even drive a male that they did not like into a corner.