General Overview

Budgie birds are one of the most popular pets worldwide, following only dogs and cats. These affectionate and cute birds are small and affordable. When trained properly, budgies can even mimic human speech. Although the origin of their formal name, budgerigar, remains a mystery, they are undeniably a delightful companion for pet owners.

Many people refer to budgies by their full name, budgerigars, or simply call them parakeets. While all budgies are parakeets, not all parakeets are budgies because parakeets vary widely in color, shape, and size.

History/Origin

The budgie, also known as the budgerigar or parakeet, is a small, colorful parrot native to Australia. The first scientific description of the budgerigar was made in 1805 by George Shaw, and it was brought to Europe in 1840 by John Gould.

Unique Facts/Info

They’re not the smallest parrots―that distinction belongs to the parrotlet―but budgies are quite tiny. Most budgies in captivity average between 7 or 8 inches from the beak to the tip of the tail. Wild budgies in their native habitat of Australia are even smaller.