Budgerigar

Wild-type plumage is light green with black and yellow barring on the back, wings, and head, and a yellow face with small purple cheek patches. Selective breeding in captivity has produced numerous color mutations including blue, white, yellow, and grey.

Distinctive yellow and black barring on the back and wings, yellow face, long tapered tail, and hooked parrot bill.

Length: 18-20 cm (7-8 inches), Wingspan: 30 cm (12 inches), Weight: 30-40 grams.

A continuous series of cheerful chirps, chatters, and high-pitched warbles, sometimes mimicking human speech or other household sounds when kept as pets.

Primarily feeds on grass seeds, especially spinifex seeds, foraging mainly on the ground.

Open habitats, predominantly scrublands, open woodlands, grasslands, and agricultural areas in Australia.

Nomadic. Their movements are largely driven by the availability of food and water in response to erratic rainfall in the Australian interior.

Nests in hollows of eucalyptus trees or logs. Clutch size is typically 4 to 6 eggs, incubated by the female for about 18 to 21 days.

Other small Australian parrots like lovebirds or cockatiels, though the budgerigar's distinct wavy markings and long tail easily distinguish it.

Acts as a seed disperser and an important component of the arid Australian ecosystem food web, serving as prey for various raptors.

Least Concern (IUCN), with a stable and extremely large wild population.

In the wild, look for large, noisy flocks near water sources in arid or semi-arid Australian scrublands. In captivity, best observed in aviaries or kept as household pets.

Budgerigars, commonly known as budgies, are the third most popular pet in the world after cats and dogs. They are capable of learning a large vocabulary of human words.