<#000000>Budgerigar 
<#868686>(Melopsittacus undulatus)<IMG=./Data/Lexicon/Vogel_Closeup01.dds>
<#000000>Description

<#868686>The budgerigar is a member of the parrot family and, as its Latin name suggests, its plumage has a wavy pattern.

<#000000>Appearance
<#868686>In the wild, budgerigars are green with yellow faces. The feathers on the top of their heads, their necks and backs, and the upper sides of their wings are barred with black stripes. This natural camouflage makes it almost impossible to spot budgerigars amongst foliage.
Today budgies are bred in a wide range of different colors, including light and dark green, light and dark blue, and yellow. Males and females look very similar; the only way to distinguish the sex is from the skin above the beak. This area of skin, called the 'cere', is blue in male birds and brown in females. It is slightly easier to tell young budgerigars from adults, as juveniles have paler feathers and smaller spots on their throat than adult birds. Budgerigars weigh between approximately 35 and 60 grams, depending on the breed and the conditions in which they are kept. <IMG=./Data/Lexicon/Vogel_Closeup02.dds>
<#000000>Origin
<#868686>The budgerigar is a native of Australia, and this is the only place where wild birds are found away from coastal areas. The first pair of live budgerigars was taken to London, England, in 1840 and people started importing budgies to Europe for breeding at roughly the same time.

<#000000>Habitat
<#868686>Budgerigars' natural habitats are grassy plains and savannas. 
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<#000000>Species and breeds
<#868686>Over time, color variations have occurred in the plumage of budgerigars born in captivity. Following research into the birds' hereditary characteristics, breeders can now obtain the different color variations by pairing specific combinations of budgerigars.

<IMG=./Data/Lexicon/Vogel05.dds><#000000>Life expectancy
<#868686>Budgerigars have an average lifespan of around 8 to 10 years, although they have been known to live for up to 15 years.











<#000000>Behavior
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<#000000>Habits
<#868686>Budgies are found in small groups or large flocks in the wild. They are nomadic in times of drought, moving from one waterhole to the next until they find an area with a good food supply. Budgerigars can also exist on a minimal fluid intake and can survive for up to a month without actually drinking. Budgerigars live mainly on grass seeds that they find on the ground and generally look for food in the mornings and late afternoons and sometimes in the evening. During the hottest part of the day they rest in the trees, preening their feathers.


<#000000>Predators 
<#868686>Budgerigars' worst enemies include birds of prey, but flying around in large flocks improves their chances of evading these predators. However, budgies are also at considerable risk from bush fires or long periods of drought.
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Breeding habits
<#868686>Budgerigars have two different breeding seasons in their native Australia: from August to January in the south and from June to September in the north. They may also reproduce at other times of the year during periods of heavy rainfall. Budgerigars normally nest alongside several other pairs in a single tree during the breeding season, although they also occasionally brood in holes in the ground. The females usually lay between four and six eggs, but they may lay up to eight. The chicks hatch after about 18 days and leave the nest for the first time after approximately 30 days. The chicks then reach maturity after about three to six months. 



<#000000>Ownership

<#000000>Diet
<#868686>Budgerigars feed mainly on seeds in the wild, although they occasionally also eat small insects.
If they are kept as pets, however, their staple food is prepared birdseed mix, which can be obtained from any pet shop. This seed mix contains all the vitamins, minerals, and proteins that are essential for the birds. The empty husks should be removed from the food bowl several times a day so that the remaining seed can be eaten. If the bowl is just topped up with more seed, it may result in a less balanced diet. Budgerigars also like to eat fresh fruit and vegetables.

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<#000000>Care
<#868686>Budgerigars should be kept in pairs or larger groups to reflect their natural lifestyle as much as possible. With a little patience, they can become very tame. The cage should have several places for climbing, an activity that budgies enjoy and practice frequently. The cage should be carefully sited in a quiet, draught-free place against at least one wall. The cage should also be positioned well above ground level to give the budgerigars a good view of the entire room, as this will make them feel more secure.
Owners should provide plenty of equipment in the cage: the budgies will need perches, a food and water bowl, a container for bathing and a mineral or wood block for their beaks. Budgerigars like to play and should therefore also have a swing, a mirror, and a bell in their home.
The floor of the cage should be sprinkled with bird sand.