Budgerigar/Common pet parakeet/Shell parakeet – Melopsittacus undulatus.
Budgerigar – Melopsittacus undulatus
A budgerigar is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot and is also called common pet parakeet or shell parakeet.
It’s endemic from Australia.
In nature, they move in groups of tens of parakeets, hundreds of miles to traverse the arid and semi-arid areas. Thus they go in search of water and various seeds for food.
Wild parakeets are also thinner and smaller than our domestic parrots, they do not exceed 10 cm from the tail to beak. Our domestic parrots can reach 20 to 25cm. The dress of wild parakeets is clear green with yellow head and striped undulations. Some are blue or yellow.
Budgies will seek an ideal breeding site to nest in the trees and in the cavities of trunks. They reproduce mainly during the long hot rainy season. The chicks are born and after 20 days of incubation and are weaned at 30 to 40 days.
Before sunrise parakeets groom themselves, emit squeaks contacts and do head and body movements. Then they fly in search of food and a water point.