Budgerigar

Melopsittacus undulatus

A small green-and-yellow parrot of Australia's dry interior, and the most widely known pet bird in the world.

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About the Budgerigar

Wild budgerigars live across most of Australia, except along the far eastern and southwestern coasts, in dry grasslands and savannas. They are only 18 to 20 cm long and weigh about 30 grams. Budgies feed on the ground, mostly on grass seeds. They live in large flocks and are nomadic, moving from place to place to find food and water.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Melopsittacus undulatus^[1]
Size: 18 to 20 cm (about 7 to 8 inches) long.^[1]
Weight: About 30 grams (about 1 ounce).^[1]
Lifespan: Up to 21 years in captivity.^[1]
Diet: Seeds of grasses and crop plants, picked up from the ground.^[1]
Habitat: Dry grasslands and savannas.^[1]
Where it lives: Most of Australia, except the far eastern and southwestern coasts.^[1]
Group life: Large, nomadic flocks.^[1]
Babies: About 5 eggs, laid in tree hollows, hatch after about 18 days.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018).^[2]

Fun facts

The budgerigar is the most widely known pet bird in the world.^[1]
Budgie feathers have colors that stand out in ultraviolet light.^[1]
Wild budgies breed whenever good rain falls.^[1]
Budgies are ready to breed at about 180 days old.^[1]

Vocabulary

parrot: A colorful bird with a curved beak and feet with two toes forward and two back.
flock: A group of birds that live, travel or feed together.
nomadic: Moving from place to place instead of staying in one home.
cere: The patch of bare skin above a bird's beak.
ultraviolet: A kind of light people can't see but many birds can.

See it in person

Montgomery ZooMontgomery, Alabama · AustraliaSee this area on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. “Melopsittacus undulatus (budgerigar).” https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Melopsittacus_undulatus/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Melopsittacus undulatus (Budgerigar).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22685223/132056957 (accessed 2026-10-02)