Budgies (Parakeets): The Colorful, Chatty, and Lovable Companions
Budgies—also known as parakeets—are one of the most popular pet birds around the world. Why? These little feathered friends are full of personality, highly social, and relatively easy to care for. Native to Australia, budgies are small parrots that are packed with energy, curiosity, and, of course, beauty. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, and each budgie has its own unique temperament, making them a fun and diverse pet option for bird enthusiasts.
What Budgies Do
Budgies are incredibly active birds—they love to fly, play, and interact with their surroundings. In the wild, they’re constantly on the move, traveling in flocks and foraging for food. As pets, they need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. You’ll often see them hopping from perch to perch, climbing around their cage, or fluttering about in the space you give them to roam. They’re natural explorers, so providing them with toys that encourage foraging, such as puzzle feeders or shreddable toys, will keep them entertained for hours.
Budgies also love to vocalize. While they don’t have the squawking volume of some larger parrots, they’re chatterboxes—mimicking sounds, learning words, and chirping to communicate. Male budgies are often better talkers than females, but both sexes can learn to speak with enough time and patience. They pick up on human speech, the sounds of their environment, and even tunes from music or TV.
What Budgies Like
- Toys: Budgies need a wide range of toys to keep them entertained. They enjoy bells, mirrors, and ropes—basically anything they can interact with and manipulate. Since they love to chew, make sure to provide them with safe materials like soft wood or paper to gnaw on.
- Company: These birds are highly social creatures. In the wild, they live in large flocks, so they crave interaction—either with other budgies or their human caretakers. If you only have one budgie, you’ll need to spend a lot of time with them to keep them happy. Without socialization, a single budgie can become lonely or even depressed.
- Baths: Budgies love splashing around in water. You can give them a shallow dish of water to bathe in or mist them gently with a spray bottle. It’s not just for fun—bathing helps keep their feathers in good condition.
- Healthy Diet: A balanced diet for budgies consists of seeds, pellets, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Seed-only diets aren’t ideal, as they lack essential nutrients, so adding pellets ensures they get a proper balance. They particularly enjoy leafy greens like spinach, as well as fruits like apples (without seeds).
Budgies and Humans
Budgies can form strong bonds with humans. Once they trust you, they love sitting on your finger, shoulder, or even your head, happily chirping away. Training them takes time, but with gentle handling and patience, most budgies become friendly and affectionate. Start slow—offering them your hand inside the cage and rewarding them with treats. Eventually, they’ll recognize you as a companion and might even follow you around like a little birdy shadow.
One of the great things about budgies is how they adapt to their human’s lifestyle. If you’re someone who enjoys chatting with your pet, budgies are great listeners—and talkers! They love mimicking human speech, and many owners teach their budgies to say phrases like “hello” or their name. And while they’re quite active during the day, they tend to wind down as it gets darker, syncing up with your daily rhythm.
Activity Levels
Budgies are some of the most active pet birds. If you don’t provide enough space or opportunities for exercise, they can become bored or overweight. A large cage where they can spread their wings is a must, but also make sure to give them time outside the cage every day. Letting them fly around a safe room (one with no open windows or dangerous objects) is a great way to keep them healthy and happy. Flying isn’t just exercise—it’s also a form of play and exploration for these clever birds.
In addition to flying, they enjoy climbing—so ladders, ropes, and perches of varying heights in their cage will keep them busy. They’re known for being little acrobats, often hanging upside down or using their beaks to swing around the cage.
Types of Budgies
There are two main types of budgies—American and English:
- American Budgies: Also called “parakeets” in the U.S., American budgies are smaller, more agile, and more common in pet stores. They have sleek bodies and are known for being highly active and vocal.
- English Budgies: These are larger, with puffier feathers and more defined facial features. English budgies are often bred for show, so they have a slightly more laid-back attitude compared to their American counterparts. They tend to be calmer but aren’t as talkative or energetic.
Both types come in a dazzling array of colors—green, blue, yellow, white, and various mixes of these. The classic budgie color is green with a yellow face, but thanks to selective breeding, you can find almost any color variation.
Interesting Budgie Facts
- Budgies are one of the smallest members of the parrot family—but don’t let their size fool you. They’re incredibly smart and can learn up to 100 words with enough training.
- In the wild, budgies are nomadic—traveling long distances across Australia in search of food and water. They live in large flocks and are known for their tight-knit social structure.
- Budgies have a unique ability called cere color change—the cere (the fleshy area around their nostrils) changes color depending on their sex and hormonal levels. Males usually have a blue cere, while females have a brown or white one.
- These birds are long-lived for their size. With proper care, budgies can live anywhere from 5 to 10 years, and some even reach 15 years in captivity.
Final Thoughts
Budgies are delightful pets for both new bird owners and experienced bird enthusiasts. They’re fun, intelligent, and bring a lot of joy to their owners with their bright personalities and endless energy. Whether you’re looking for a single feathered friend or a pair of chatty companions, budgies make a perfect addition to any household. Just be ready for a lot of chirps, some playful antics, and the occasional chatter in your ear!
Further reading: “Budgie Care Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Budgies: From Setting Up the Perfect Cage to Advanced Training, Health and Enrichment Ideas for New and Experienced Pet Owners” (Amazon affiliate link) Rosa Greenberg.
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