Mr. Budgerigar: The stare . . .
The Budgerigar is a small parrot with a long tail. Wild ‘budgies’ are green-yellow with black barrings. The Budgerigar occurs naturally throughout much of mainland Australia, but is absent from the far south-west, the north of the Northern Territory, Tasmania and the majority of the east coast.
Budgerigars are nomadic and large flocks of birds can be seen in most open habitat types, but seldom far from water. Very large flocks, numbering occasionally in the tens of thousands, are seen after a season of abundant rainfall and food. Flocks are usually much smaller, however, and range from as few as three birds up to 100 or more. Birds in a flock fly in a characteristic undulating manner.
The male has a dark blue cere (skin at the base of the upper mandible surrounding the nostrils). In the female, this is brownish when breeding and light blue otherwise. Young Budgerigars are similar to adult birds, but are duller and have a dark brown eye (which is white or yellow in adults). Their average size is 18cm and their average weight is 28 grams.
The contact call is a warbling “chirrup”; “zit” is given in alarm. (Birdlife Australia)
Mr. Budgerigar: The stare . . .
The Budgerigar is a small parrot with a long tail. Wild ‘budgies’ are green-yellow with black barrings. The Budgerigar occurs naturally throughout much of mainland Australia, but is absent from the far south-west, the north of the Northern Territory, Tasmania and the majority of the east coast.
Budgerigars are nomadic and large flocks of birds can be seen in most open habitat types, but seldom far from water. Very large flocks, numbering occasionally in the tens of thousands, are seen after a season of abundant rainfall and food. Flocks are usually much smaller, however, and range from as few as three birds up to 100 or more. Birds in a flock fly in a characteristic undulating manner.
The male has a dark blue cere (skin at the base of the upper mandible surrounding the nostrils). In the female, this is brownish when breeding and light blue otherwise. Young Budgerigars are similar to adult birds, but are duller and have a dark brown eye (which is white or yellow in adults). Their average size is 18cm and their average weight is 28 grams.
The contact call is a warbling “chirrup”; “zit” is given in alarm. (Birdlife Australia)