Budgerigars are one of the most popular pets, behind cats and dogs. Also known as budgies, or parakeets, these small parrots are small, fairly quiet, and can have lots of personality. Sometimes they are kept together in large groups in aviaries, but they can make for a very good inside companion! With lots of 1-on-1 time, budgies can be outgoing, social, and males can even learn a large vocabulary.
Budgies are plentiful in Australia, their native country, where they are primarily green and yellow. With so many bred in captivity, they now are available in many color varieties such as violets, blues, greys, yellow, olive, and more.
Budgies can live, on average, from 6 to 12 years or longer with good diet and exercise. It is recommended to keep them on a diet primarily of pellets and fresh foods as they can be prone to fatty tumors if they are over-eaters. Around 10 months, as budgies mature, it can be possible to tell males from females by the color of their cere (the fleshy skin around the nostrils). Males will have a blue cere, and females will have ceres that are tan, brown, or white-ish.
Even if they are not hand-fed, budgies can be easily tamed with time and patience. Although it helps if the bird is young, even older parakeets can be worked with. Because of their temperament, they are great beginner birds.