Budgerigar (Parakeet)
Authority: PetMD / Avian Veterinary Care Data
Budgerigars, commonly called parakeets in North America, typically live 5-10 years as pets. They are among the smallest common pet birds, with adult weight averaging just 28-40 grams, about 1 to 1.4 ounces -- roughly a thousand times lighter than a small dog.
| Parameter / Specification | Standard Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Average Lifespan | 5-10 | years |
| Adult Weight | 28-40 | g (~1-1.4 oz) |
Domestication History
Budgerigars are native to the arid interior of Australia, where wild flocks still range widely in search of seed and water. The species was first scientifically described in 1805, and English naturalist John Gould gave it its current scientific name, Melopsittacus undulatus, in 1840. Captive breeding took hold in Europe soon after, with budgerigars established as an aviary bird by the 1850s.
Within a few decades, European breeders had turned a single wild population into a globally kept pet species, selecting first for temperament and hardiness in captivity and later for the color variations that never occur in the wild.
Name and Varieties
The name "budgerigar" is generally believed to derive from an Aboriginal Australian language, though linguists disagree on the exact source word and its precise original meaning. In everyday speech the bird is also commonly called a "parakeet" or "budgie," particularly in North America.
Wild budgerigars are a fairly uniform green and yellow, but the many color varieties sold as pets today -- including blues, whites, greys, and combinations of these -- exist only because of selective breeding in captivity and are not found in wild populations. Budgerigars are considered the third most popular pet in the world, ranking behind only dogs and cats.