introduction
The Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus, nicknamed budgie), the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus, is a small parrot belonging to the tribe of the broad-tailed parrots (Platycercini); these are sometimes considered a subfamily (Platycercinae). In the latter case, the budgerigar is sometimes isolated in a tribe of its own, the Melopsittacini, although it is probably quite closely related to Pezoporus and NeophemaThough budgerigars are often called parakeets, especially in American English, this term refers to any of a number of small parrots with long flat tails. The budgerigar is found throughout the drier parts of Australia and has survived in the inlands of that continent for over 5 million years.
etymology
At least three possible origins for the English name budgerigar have been proposed:
* A compound of budgery, "good" and gar "cockatoo". Budgerigar means "good eating" or "good food" in some Australian Aboriginal languages. This is supported by the Oxford English Dictionary. The word budgery itself, also spelt boojery, was formerly in use in Australian English slang meaning "good".
* An alteration of Gamilaraay gidjirrigaa possibly influenced by the slang word budgery mentioned above. This is supported by the American Heritage Dictionary.
The genus name Melopsittacus comes from Greek and means "melodious parrot". The species name undulatus is Latin for "undulated" or "wave-patterned".
Characteristics
Adult females (left above) have pink to brown ceres while adult males (right above) have blue ceres.
Adult females (left above) have pink to brown ceres while adult males (right above) have blue ceres.
Appearance
Budgerigars are about 18 cm long and weigh 30-40 grams. Wild budgerigars have green underparts and rumps, while the upperparts are barred with black and yellow. The forehead and face is yellow in adults, and barred black with yellow in young till they change into their adult plumage at 3-4 months of age. Each cheek has a small dark purple patch and a series of black spots (called the "necklace") across the throat. The tail is greenish blue or purple; outside tail feathers have a central yellow band. Their wings have greenish-black flight feathers and black coverts with yellow fringes. Bill olive grey and legs greyish blue, with zygodactyl toes. Wild budgerigars are noticeably smaller than those in captivity. These parrots have been bred in many other colours in captivity, such as white, blue, and even purple, although they are mostly found in pet stores in blue, green and seldomly white.
The colour of the cere (the area containing the nostrils) differs between the sexes; royal blue in males, pale-brown to white(non-breeding) or brown (breeding) in females and pink in immatures of both sexes (usually of a more even purplish-pink colour in young males). Young females can often be identified by a subtle chalky whiteness that starts around the cere nostril holes. Males that are albinos, lutinos or recessive pieds usually retain the immature purplish-pink cere color their entire life.
Colour Mutations
There are presently at least 32 primary mutations in the budgerigar, enabling hundreds of possible secondary mutations (stable combined primary mutations) & colour varieties (unstable combined mutations). Each of these primary mutations falls into one of four basic groups:
* Albinism, in which eumelanin (dark pigment) is reduced in all body tissues & structures. It may be complete (a complete absence of eumelanin) or partial (an incomplete reduction in the amount of eumelanin).
* Dilutism, in which eumelanin incompletely reduced, almost exclusively in feathering.
* Leucism, in which all pigmentation is reduced, almost exclusively in feathering.
* Melanism, in which eumelanin is increased virtually only in feathering.
Each of these mutations is inherited in via one of the following dominance relationships:
* Autosomal co-cominant
* Autosomal complete dominant
* Autosomal incomplete dominant
* Autosomal recessive
* Autosomal polygenic
* Sex-linked recessive
Because birds have a ZW sex-determination system, sex-linked recessive phenotypes are more common in females than in males, rather than the reverse as is found the more familiar XY determination of humans.
Personality
Young male budgie of split dominant pied coloration. Budgerigars, especially males, are very tame house pets.
Young male budgie of split dominant pied coloration. Budgerigars, especially males, are very tame house pets.
Budgerigars are, very generally speaking, accepting of humans and other birds, but should never be housed with a bird other than another budgerigar. Care should be taken even when placing two budgies together, as they can do serious harm to one another if they do not get along. They are relatively easily tamed.
