Budgies belong to the family of parrots, a species of budgies. The literal translation of the Greek-Latin name for the bird Melopsittacus undulates sounds like "a singing budgerigar." In the wild, these birds are found in Australia and on the islands nearby. They gather in large flocks and quickly move in search of food and water. Nowadays, in connection with human activity, Australian nature has changed dramatically, and the number of budgies has been markedly reduced.
History of discovery and selection
The first mention of these birds can be found in the works of the English scientist George Shaw. Very detailed budgies were described by English ornithologist John Gould in 1837. In 1840, budgies were able to be delivered from their native mainland to the London Zoo. They were brought to Russia from Europe at the end of the 19th century, but they did not try to breed birds. Only in the thirties of the XX century, their breeding was started at the Moscow Zoo, then it became possible at home.
Budgies in the natural environment have a light green color, which makes them subtle in the green trees. As a result of breeding, more than two hundred varieties of these birds with various plumage colors (blue, white, yellow, purple) have been bred in our time. In 1994, the World Organization of Budgerigar Breeders (WBO) was created, which developed color standards for these birds. Very rare colors include rainbow, anthracite, lasing and some others.
Features of the rainbow budgies
These birds have a body length, not counting the tail, 18–22 centimeters and weigh approximately 40–45 grams. They have a bluish tint, body, feathers of light gray, a yellowish mask and a fuzzy opaline pattern. The rainbow color of birds is not a mutation - this is a variant of combining three color factors in one parrot: yellow-faced, opaline and white-winged. To bring out bright rainbow budgies, you need to use a large number of birds with a purple factor, it gives expressiveness to the flowers.
Individuals with a dominance of the gray factor are not suitable for these purposes, because it dims the brightness of the color.
Nature and behavior
It should be borne in mind that these birds are capable of a very quick change of emotions. The first few days after the purchase, they may refuse to eat, be in a state of apathy and not make contact. It is worth giving the parrot time to adapt to the new environment, as it is a big stress for the bird. Do not rush to take the parrot in your hands, give him goodies, gently talk to him, and gradually the bird will become tame.
During molting, rainbow parrots can also be irritable and aggressive, refuse to eat, bite - this is normal behavior in this situation, you should not disturb them in vain and annoy with loud sounds. If you want to teach a budgie to speak, then you should consider that males learn better and faster. Talk to the parrot gently and do not tire the bird with long activities. Budgerigars are sociable, talkative, inquisitive, neat, they preen a lot, clean their beautiful feathers, bathe.
How to care for a rainbow parrot?
First of all, get a spacious cage with a size of at least 35 by 35 cm, if you have one bird. The cage should be easy to wash, inside place feeders, a drinking bowl, a bathtub for bathing, perches, swings, ladders, toys in the form of a mirror, bells. If you are feeding a parrot special food, be sure to add chopped fruits, vegetables, greens to the diet and immediately remove uneaten food. Change water every day and rinse the drinker with hot water. Daily let the bird fly for at least half an hour. Cover the cage with a dense cloth overnight, leaving a small open space.
Security measures
In order to avoid unpleasant situations that threaten the health of your winged pet, carefully read the following tips from experienced breeders:
- try not to leave the parrot alone unattended, especially if windows or doors are open in the house - the bird can easily fly away;
- many indoor plants are poisonous for rainbow budgies, for example, Dieffenbachia, monstera, amaryllis, mistletoe;
- letting the pet out of the cage, close the washing machine, refrigerator, ventilation grilles, mirrors, do not keep household chemicals in the public domain;
- aquarium and other containers with liquid must be covered, otherwise the bird may drown;
- watch the parrot if you have other pets, especially cats.
Rainbow budgies are smart, outgoing and beautiful birds that are very suitable for home keeping. With good care, they can live near you for up to 15 years, giving a good mood and their love.
In the next video, the birth of a budgie awaits you.
