Color of budgerigars: color variations. How long do budgerigars live at home?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The full name of this bird species translates as "singing budgerigar". Before getting such a pet, many decide to get acquainted with the species, habits and care requirements. The reason for this is that a parrot in the house is a big responsibility. Therefore, the choice of a bird should be approached with all seriousness.

Homeland of the budgerigars

The birthplace of the budgerigars living in the wild is Australia. Tall grass, trees and shrubs are a favorite nesting place for these birds. They huddle in flocks and fly from place to place all the time, looking for food. In flight, budgerigars reach very high speeds and can cover a huge distance in a day.

These parrots were first encountered by Joseph Banks back in 1770 when he traveled with navigator and explorer James Cook.

Whatare there species of budgerigars?

Today, there are more than 150 species of budgerigars. By their nature, they were originally a grassy green color. However, as a result of selection and breeding work, various color variations appeared.

All budgerigars are divided into:

1. Single color (the predominance of one color in the color).
2. Colorful.
3. Crested.

In addition, two separate subgroups are often distinguished, which include albinos (pure white color) and lutinos (pure yellow color). Lutinos do not have a wavy pattern on their plumage and red eyes.

More about color

As mentioned above, in the Australian wild, budgerigars had a light green color. Now, starting a conversation about the colors of these birds, it would be more correct to separate them according to the aggregate characteristics of the plumage color, and not just by color. Thus, two main groups of birds can be distinguished: multi-colored and monochrome.

In monochromatic budgerigars, the plumage color is dominated by one dominant color. Often among them there is blue or green. However, the color of budgerigars in this group can be white or yellow (the feathers will be slightly wavy). It can also be gray, and then the parrots will cast in a darker, even black color.

Multi-colored budgerigars mostly consist of two primary colors. They are distributed over the plumage very evenly, and therefore to say which onedominated, very difficult. Multicolored parrots are related in their color to:

1. Party (their colors are randomly distributed over the plumage). Parrots that have a white rim around the eyes are called dominant, and those that do not have it are called recessive.
2. Harlequins (the colors of their plumage on the chest and belly are clearly distinguished). Most often, harlequins are found with a blue chest and a yellow belly. When determining a parrot to a subgroup of harlequins, only the color of the abdomen and chest is taken into account, and not, for example, back and chest or wings and chest.
3. Penguins (they have a well-defined color border that runs throughout the body). They were so praised for their similarity to penguins within color boundaries: the head, back and wings are covered with plumage of one color, and the neck, chest, belly and undertail are covered with another.

Crested budgerigars are also distinguished, but in this case the division does not occur according to color. The main feature of these birds is the crest on the head, while the colors are not taken into account.

WBO parrot colors

There is another division of budgerigars according to color. It was proposed by the WBO, the World Budgerigar Breeders Organization, which was established in 1994

According to the standards developed by this organization, colors are distinguished based on genetic laws. It also classifies other possible color mutations.

Light and dark shades of green budgerigars are considered standard. Also parrots of this groupavailable in olive, taupe, yellow, blue, grey, violet, mauve and cob alt (dark blue).

If the color of the parrot is not one of the above, then, according to the standards, we are talking about a genetic mutation.

Description of the color of parrots

Yellow budgerigars have light yellow plumage on the chest, rump, flanks and belly. Green inclusions are completely absent. The eyes are black with a white iris.

The color of green budgerigars has a bright color, similar to fresh grass. Blue parrots are painted sky blue. The color of blue budgerigars is a deep navy blue, and the tail feathers are much darker.

Albinos, or white budgerigars, have pure white plumage without inclusions. Their paws are rich pink, and their red eyes are framed by a snow-white iris.

Pink budgerigars are believed to not exist, but this is a misconception. A beautiful pinkish hue is obtained by crossing parrots with white and purple shades of plumage. Professional budgerigar breeders are of the opinion that by combining the purple and albino factors, albinos are also bred, which have a pink tint on the back feathers of the lower body.

There is an opinion that the nature of a feathered pet depends on the color of plumage. This is actually a common mistake.

Rainbow parrots

There are many typescolor mutations. They sometimes include the iridescent color of budgerigars. They have an unusual combination of waves and colors, and among their representatives there are individuals with a very bright color.

In fact, the rainbow variety of parrots did not arise due to a mutation. It was formed as a result of a combination of colors of the lines of waviness and plumage. The iridescent species was formed due to the features of the yellow-headed, white-winged and opaline undulations of parrots. In the WOB classification, this bird was recorded under the name yellow-faced opaline white-winged blue.

An unusually beautiful species of rainbow parrot was bred by a breeder living in Kent (England). The color of his parrot is considered a real rainbow. To get such a colorful combination, he crossed the following parrots:

1. Australian white-winged bird.
2. Australian opaline mutation bird.
3. English yellow-faced bird of the second type.

Despite the colorfulness and beauty of the color, this version of the parrot WOB did not recognize. To date, most rainbow parrots are bred using the first type of yellow-faced bird. The resulting specimens have all the desired set of qualities for exhibitions, but they do not have the juiciness of true rainbow parrots.

Currently, there are many ways to breed a pair of birds, the offspring of which will be rainbow parrots. One of them is the breeding of a blue opaline male with a white-winged female and a white-winged male with a blue opaline.female. After bringing together the offspring of these two pairs, there is a high probability that they will have rainbow offspring.

Budgerigar Plumage

These birds fly very well thanks to their pointed wings.

Budgerigar feathers help maintain a constant body temperature and protect against skin damage. The feather of a parrot consists of a strong rod and a wide fan.

Often there are up to 20 flight feathers of different lengths on the wings of a bird. The feathered tail reaches 9.5 cm in length and consists of 12 tail feathers.

Moulting is the normal process of changing the feather cover of a parrot. It can be periodic and juvenile, that is, the molt of young animals.

Beak of a he althy parrot

The budgerigar's beak is distinguished by its strength. It is covered with a strong horny substance that protects against damage and chips. At the base of the beak are the cere and nostrils.

Due to its structure and mobility, the beak of the budgerigar does an excellent job of breaking off and crushing the shoots, seeds and leaves of plants. In addition, with its help, the bird can carry objects and climb trees. During an attack, the beak becomes a reliable defense against enemies.

Parrot-boys

The distinguishing feature of boy budgerigars is their cere. They are deep blue or purple. The crown of the male is larger than that of the female and appears more flattened.

The behavior of males also differs fromfemale behavior. Some of their features:

1. Males are characterized by increased activity and mobility. They are interested in learning about their environment and try to imitate their owners. Boy parrots are often noisy and talkative.
2. Like other male animals, male budgerigars are more aggressive than females. Especially when they defend their territory or a female. Their aggressiveness increases during the mating season.
3. The manner of male singing is distinguished by its duration, melody and intricacy.
4. Specialists believe that male budgerigars are easier to teach than females. The main rule in this case is patience, care and understanding, then the result will not be long in coming.
5. Boy parrots adapt much faster to changing owners. By biting a person's hands, they demonstrate their "importance" and try to attract attention.

Parrot girls

The color of the cere is lighter in the girls of the budgerigar than in the boys. It can be gray, beige or light blue. In addition, their nostrils are bordered with light edging. Their paws are pink.

The behavior pattern of budgie girls is significantly different from that of boys. They have the following features:

1. Females behave more calmly and reservedly. Their aggression is manifested only during the mating season.
2. They tend to clean and tidy. Often this is manifested in the fact that females throw out objects from cages that, in their opinion, are there.extra.
3. Songs of parrot girls are usually not distinguished by their length and intricacy.
4. If two budgerigars sit in a cage and it is difficult to determine their gender, you should pay attention to their behavior during the mating season. Females usually do not show initiative, but only favorably and reservedly treat partners.
5. The girls of these parrots are more difficult to learn to talk. It takes a lot more effort to get a female to talk than it takes to train a male.
6. Females are not particularly friendly and take a long time to get used to new owners. Unlike males, they bite hard and sometimes draw blood.

Lifespan of budgerigars

Before you start such a bird, it is better to find out in advance how many budgerigars live at home.

In the wild, budgerigars live a very short time - from 4 to 6 years. It is very rare for individuals to live up to 8 years. The reason for this is unfavorable weather conditions, possible hunger and predators. That is why it is believed that talking birds are more suitable for life in captivity.

At home, budgerigars can live up to 15 years, and some individuals up to 20. How long a budgerigar will live at home depends on how it will be maintained, cared for and what kind of heredity it has. With enough effort, the feathered one will live in the house for a very long time.

Factors affecting life expectancy

If the budgerigar does not have bad heredity (any diseases), mainly on how muchbudgerigars live at home, the comfort of their conditions affects. This includes quality food, a balanced diet, and the presence of a friend or partner. Male budgerigars live together, but females, on the contrary: in addition to the fact that they can conflict with other females, they can even drive a male they don’t like into a corner.