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The budgerigar is a tiny parrot. Native to Australia, they are also called parakeets, budgies, and shell parrots.

In real life, budgerigars are the third most popular pet in the world. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most misunderstood and neglected animals kept in captivity. They are sometimes called budgies, parakeets or shell parakeets.

Budgerigars have a plush counterpart.

Budgerigars are added by the Essentials addon.

Budgerigars are an uncommon spawn in dry grasslands. They spawn in small flocks of four. Male and female kakariki spawn equally as often. Male and female budgerigars, including breed-only variants, are sexually dimorphic: female budgies always have a brown cere, or nostrils.

Budgies are timid animals and will flee from players. When approached by a player, budgies will scatter until they do not believe the player is a threat to them.

Small and skittish, budgerigars can be difficult to catch, especially because they tend to hide in trees or in plants when spooked. If they are fast enough, keepers can pick up a budgie, but this is tough: they should bring a net gun and ammunition when looking for budgies, otherwise they may miss them

Budgerigars can be tamed with herbivore kibble.

Budgerigars have 2 hearts (4 points) of health, and can deal 0.5 hearts (1 point) of damage.

Budgies are tiny animals with miniscule food needs. They eat a frugivore diet, like most other parrots.

Budgies can use apple ice treat, bell toy, bird swing, branches, cup feeder, hanging browse, large bird toy, nest box, perching stand, puzzle feeder, scented ball, sprinkler, and tire swing enrichment items.

Budgerigars have prolific fertility, and can be bred with melon seeds. As tiny animals they have a gestation time of x ticks, and lay 2-3 eggs.

(note: exhibit building sections contain a mix of gameplay information and building advice. Not all recommendations are necessary to keep animals happy, fed, and watered, but can help players build a realistic enclosure.)

As arguably the most neglected animal kept in captivity, ZAWA zookeepers should aim to set a good example with their budgie exhibits. Budgerigars are sometimes considered cheap, throwaway starter pets and kept alone in tiny cages without enrichment, and fed poor, high-fat diets. In the wild, they live in huge flocks of hundreds or even thousands of birds, and fly miles every day searching for food and water.

Budgies are fast-moving, plucky and noisy birds that need to be in a group to thrive. Keepers should plan for up to 20 or 30 birds in one enclosure, and enough space for all of them to fly, perch and eat together. Budgies chatter to each other if in a same-species group. They do great in single-species aviaries, but can coexist with other active, semi-aggressive parrots such as rosellas and kakariki. Budgies tend to bully cockatiels, and unless given lots of space, the two shouldn't be put together.

Friendly, bold and colorful, budgerigars are a great option for a walk-in exhibit. Keepers can teach guests about the true potential of happy, healthy parakeets when they are in a safe, roofed or netted enclosure, and can fly up and eat out of their hands. Most tamed parrots like to sit on players' shoulders, and parakeets aren't an exception. For any enclosure, walk-in or otherwise, keepers should remember that budgies are very small and very easy to miss: plan a double door or airlock for any entrance or exit to prevent accidents.

Climbing structures, toys and interesting feeders keep budgies, and guests, interested. Build lots of branch stands, hang toys and logs from rope, and plan on using cup feeders and puzzle feeders instead of just bowls and troughs. Creative keepers can fill a pedestal feeder with water and make a bird bath, which budgies will actually use.

Budgerigars have 3 normal variants: Kiwi, Honeydew and Gooseberry. All normal budgie variants are green and yellow, with feint stripes on their head, wings and neck. They have blue tails and wing feathers. All variants are sexually dimorphic: female budgies always have a brown-pink cere, and depending on the variant, males have blue or pink.

They also have 11 breed-only variants. These do not generate naturally and have a very small chance of showing up when two tamed budgies are bred.

• Albino budgies are all white. Unlike the white variant, they have red eyes. Males have pink ceres, and females have brown.
• Blue budgies are blue with a white head and wings. Males have blue ceres, and females have brown.
• Gray budgies are pale gray with a white head and wings. Males have blue ceres, and females have brown.
• Gynandromorph budgies are "split" down the middle. They are green and yellow on one side, and blue and white on the other. Males have blue ceres, and females have brown.
• Light blue budgies are light blue with a white head and wings. Males have blue ceres, and females have brown.
• Pied blue budgies are blue with irregular patches of white. Males have blue ceres, and females have brown.
• Pied green budgies are green with random patches of yellow. Males have blue ceres, and females have brown.
• Violet budgies are purple with a white head and wings. Males have blue ceres, and females have brown.
• Yellow budgies are bright yellow all over their bodies, with slightly white wings and tail. Males have pink ceres, and females have brown.
• White budgies have completely white plumage. Unlike the albino variant, they have dark eyes. Males have pink ceres, and females have brown.