Budgerigar

Budgerigar

(AKA Budgie) First recorded in the wild in the late 1700s in Australia and has become the most popular cage bird in the world. The name budgerigar comes from the Australian Aboriginal word "betcherrygah," which means good food.

Native to Australia's mainland and sometimes flocks, in the tens of thousands in the open grasslands of central Australia. Pairs will nest in tree hollows, rotting wood, under rocks and even by digging holes in the ground.

The native budgerigar is a light green colour, with a yellow head with black bands down the back of the head and wings. The first captive breeding took place in Europe in the mid 1850s, leading to various colour and feather structure mutations. These picture are from a pet owner in Etobicoke ON