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Budgerigar (Budgie, Common Parakeet, Shell Parakeet)
Contour body feather or minor wing covert

Budgerigar (Budgie, Common Parakeet, Shell Parakeet)

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Psittaciformes, Family: Psittaculidae, Genus: Melopsittacus, Species: M. undulatus

Family: Psittaculidae (Old World Parakeets and Psittacine Parrots)

Shape
Symmetrical vane with a rounded tip, smooth elongated outline
Size
Approximately 2 to 3 inches long, standard for a small-to-medium body or covert feather of this species
Rarity
Very Common in captivity globally, and abundant within its native Australian range
Learn more about Budgerigar (Budgie, Common Parakeet, Shell Parakeet) in the encyclopedia →

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Description

The Budgerigar is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot and the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus. Wild specimens are characteristically light green with black undulating scalloped markings on the back and wings, a yellow face, and small blue cheek patches.

Colour & Pattern

Striking combination of light green or turquoise vane with a bold black subterminal band or stripe along one edge and subtle yellow facial/mantle margins

Barb Structure

Tightly interlocked pennaceous structure near the tip transitioning to a semiplumulaceous base with soft, fluffy barbs

Texture & Surface

Smooth, silky, and relatively matte with a flexible vane and soft downy base

Key Features

Distinctive black and yellow-green barring or striping along a vibrant green or turquoise background with a white calamus

Habitat

Open country, arid and semi-arid scrublands, open woodlands, and grasslands of Australia

Geographic Range

Endemic to the drier inland regions of Australia, highly nomadic depending on rainfall and food availability

Ecological Role

Important seed disperser and prey species for native Australian raptors, thriving in nomadic flocks that respond to erratic desert rainfall

Similar Species

Other small parrot or parakeet species, though the specific green-and-black scalloped pattern is unmistakable for wild-type budgerigars

Interesting Facts

Budgerigars are highly social, intelligent flock birds capable of mimicking human speech and possess tetrachromatic color vision allowing them to see into the ultraviolet spectrum

Condition Notes

Good overall condition, intact vane with minor wear at the edges, no major breaks or parasitic damage