AN INTRODUCTION
The Budgerigar is most popular parrot for bird lovers in all over the world, and It is also believed to be the most common pet parrot in the world, and has been bred in captivity since the 1850's. Wild Budgies are about seven inches in length and weight between 26-30 grams. English budgies are slightly larger and weight proportionally more. The average life span is between six and ten years, and the maximum recorded life span is 18 years.
The Budgie comes in a wide variety of colors. Its no wonder this beautiful parrot has become so popular in the homes of families throughout the world. It is sometimes difficult for the beginner to identify the various colours and varieties that are in the makeup of our budgerigars.
It doesn't matter whether you take Greens or Blues, there are a series of different varieties.
BUDGERIGAR COLORS AND VARIETIES
NORMAL GROUP
|
GREEN SERIES |
BLUE SERIES |
|
Light green
Dark green
Olive green
Grey green |
Skyblue (light blue)
Cobalt (dark blue)
Mauve
Violet
Grey (Light, Medium, Dark)
|
OPALINE GROUP
|
GREEN SERIES |
BLUE SERIES |
|
Opaline light green
Opaline dark green
Opaline olive green
Opaline grey green
|
Opaline skyblue (light blue)
Opaline cobalt (dark blue)
Opaline mauve
Opaline violet
Opaline grey |
CINNAMON GROUP
|
GREEN SERIES |
BLUE SERIES |
|
Cinnamon light green
Cinnamon dark green
Cinnamon olive green
Cinnamon grey green
|
Cinnamon skyblue (light blue)
Cinnamon cobalt (dark blue)
Cinnamon mauve
Cinnamon violet
Cinnamon grey |
OPALINE CINNAMON GROUP
|
GREEN SERIES |
BLUE SERIES |
|
Opaline cinnamon light green
Opaline cinnamon dark green
Opaline cinnamon olive green
Opaline cinnamon grey green
|
Opaline cinnamon skyblue (light blue)
Opaline cinnamon cobalt (dark blue)
Opaline cinnamon mauve
Opaline cinnamon violet
Opaline cinnamon grey |
LUTINO & ALBINO GROUP
|
GREEN SERIES |
BLUE SERIES |
|
LUTINO
There should be no green suffusion throughout. |
ALBINO
There should be no blue or grey suffusion throughout. |
CLEARWING GROUP
(Included OPALINE, CINNAMON & OPAL.CIN. CLEARWINGS)
|
YELLOW-WINGS |
WHITE-WINGS |
|
Yellow-wing light green
Yellow-wing dark green
Yellow-wing olive green
Yellow-wing grey green
|
Whitewing skyblue (light blue)
Whitewing cobalt (dark blue)
Whitewing mauve
Whitewing violet
Whitewing grey |
THE CRESTED VARIETY
Available All varieties
|
FULL CIRCULAR |
HALF CIRCULAR |
TUFTED |
|
The full circular type of crest goes all around the head and should be a flat round crest with the feathers radiating from the centre of the head. This type is the most aesthetic and the most in demand with fanciers. |
He next most common crest is the half-circular type. This crest type should be a half-circle of feathers falling or rising in a fringe above the cere. The feathers at the back of the head should be quite flat. |
The tufted (or cockatiel) type of crest is the most common and it varies from a mild disturbance on the head to a strong tuft. However, there should always be an upright crest of feathers, up to three-eighths of an inch high, rising just above the cere. |
By Kevin Eatwell crested categories are: -
|
1 |
very frilled crests: |
Three circular crests on the head ± additional distorted feathers down the back |
|
2 |
Frilled crests: |
Three circular crests on the head ± additional distorted feathers down the back |
|
3 |
Double full circular crests: |
Two circular crests on the head ± additional distorted feathers down the back |
|
4 |
Full circular crests: |
One circular crest on the head ± additional distorted feathers down the back |
|
5 |
Half circular crests: |
A semicircular crest on the head, rather like a wide tuft |
|
6 |
Tufted crests: |
A cockatiel style crest on the front of the head |
|
7 |
Small tufted crests: |
A few raised distorted feathers still quite visible |
|
8 |
Special crestbreds: |
Distorted feathers at the back of the head, noticeable as a week old chick, some may appear non-crested later in life as they grow (so record it on the records at this time!) |
|
9 |
Crestbreds: |
Have appeared normal form day one |
|
10 |
Non crested (normals) |
No crested blood in the recent history |
SPANGLE GROUP
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
Spangle light green
Spangle dark green
Spangle olive green
Spangle grey green
|
Spangle skyblue (light blue)
Spangle cobalt (dark blue)
Spangle mauve
Spangle violet
Spangle grey |
DOUBLE FACTOR SPANGLE
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
YELLOW |
WHITE |
PIED GROUP
|
DOMINANT PIED |
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
Dominant pied light green
Dominant pied dark green
Dominant pied olive green
Dominant pied grey green
|
Dominant pied skyblue (light blue)
Dominant pied cobalt (dark blue)
Dominant pied mauve
Dominant pied violet
Dominant pied grey |
|
CLEARFLIGHT PIED
|
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
Clearflight light green
Clearflight dark green
Clearflight olive green
Clearflight grey green
|
Clearflight skyblue (light blue)
Clearflight cobalt (dark blue)
Clearflight mauve
Clearflight violet
Clearflight grey |
|
DUTCH PIED PIED
|
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
Dutch pied light green
Dutch pied dark green
Dutch pied olive green
Dutch pied grey green
|
Dutch pied skyblue (light blue)
Dutch pied cobalt (dark blue)
Dutch pied mauve
Dutch pied violet
Dutch pied grey |
|
RECESSIVE PIED or HARLEQUIN
|
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
Recessive pied light green
Recessive pied dark green
Recessive pied olive green
Recessive pied grey green |
Recessive pied skyblue (light blue)
Recessive pied cobalt (dark blue)
Recessive pied mauve
Recessive pied violet
Recessive pied grey |
DARK-EYED CLEAR WHITE
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
YELLOW |
WHITE |
YELLOWFACE GROUP
|
YELLOWFACE (MUTANT 1) |
YELLOWFACE (MUTANT 2) |
|
All Varieties In The Blue Series |
Double factor and goldenface double factor
LIGHT YELLOW
DARK YELLOW
OLIVE YELLOW
YELLOW (suffused)
GREY YELLOW
WHITE (suffused)
GREY WHITE |
RAINBOW GROUP
|
Rainbow is composite Opaline Whitewing Yellowface/Goldenface Blue series, |
The Rainbow is not a proper example of the variety unless it is visibly an Opaline, a Whitewing, a Yellowface or Goldenface |
GREYWING GROUP
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
Greywing light green
Greywing dark green
Greywing olive green
Greywing grey green
|
Greywing skyblue (light blue)
Greywing cobalt (dark blue)
Greywing mauve
Greywing violet
Greywing grey
|
LACEWING (Redeye’s)
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
LACEWING YELLOW
Included Opalines
There should be no green suffusion throughout. |
LACEWING WHITE
Included Opalines
There should be no blue or grey suffusion throughout. |
FALLOW GROUP
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
Fallow light green
Fallow dark green
Fallow olive green
Fallow grey green
|
Fallow skyblue (light blue)
Fallow cobalt (dark blue)
Fallow mauve
Fallow violet
Fallow grey
|
SEX-LINKED CLEARBODY GROUP
(The sex-linked Clearbody variety is more commonly known as the Texas Clearbody.)
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
Sex-linked clearbody light green
Sex-linked clearbody dark green
Sex-linked clearbody olive green
Sex-linked clearbody grey green
|
Sex-linked clearbody skyblue (light blue)
Sex-linked clearbody cobalt (dark blue)
Sex-linked clearbody mauve
Sex-linked clearbody violet
Sex-linked clearbody grey |
|
DOMINANT CLEARBODY
(Also known as the Easley Clearbody or Laced Clear) |
|
Dominant clearbody light green |
Dominant clearbody skyblue (light blue) |
SLATE
|
SLATE (BLUE) |
|
There are light, medium and dark shades of slate and in all other varieties |
SADDLEBACK GROUP
|
Green Series |
Blue Series |
|
Saddleback light green
Saddleback dark green
Saddleback olive green
Saddleback grey green
|
Saddleback skyblue (light blue)
Saddleback cobalt (dark blue)
Saddleback mauve
Saddleback violet
Saddleback grey |
