| BUDGERIGAR |
| Melopsittacus undulatus |
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Range:
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Throughout the Australian interior. |
 The budgerigar, nicknamed “budgie” in Australia, is a social bird that lives in small groups in the wild. These groups gather to feed or to migrate. Flocks numbering thousands of budgies can be large enough to block out the sun. Large flocks fly swiftly, twisting and turning. Smaller groups move more slowly and directly.
The budgie breeds in large colonies, pairing for long periods, probably for life. In northern Australia it breeds at the end of summer when the rainy season begins. The sight of rain or increased humidity seems to be a stimulus for the budgie to mate. By the time the young hatch, the grasses are producing seeds. In late spring or early summer, flocks of budgerigar travel south, and they breed again.
During a heat wave in 1932, millions of budgies migrated north in a flock that was so huge it took four hours to fly past a particular spot.
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| Habitat: |
Trees and shrubs. |
| Diet: |
Seeds of grasses and fleshy plants |
| Status: |
Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Approximate Dimensions of Adult: |
Weight: 1.5 – 2 ounces
Length: 7-8 inches. |
| Lifespan: |
3-4 years. |
| Reproduction & Offspring: |
4-6 eggs are laid at a time and incubated for 17-20 days. |
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