Green Budgerigar Bird Parrot On Ground

The little budgie bird is one of the most popular pets in the world, ranking just behind dogs and cats, and it's no wonder. This affectionate, cute bird is small and inexpensive, and if trained properly a budgie can mimic human speech. The origin of its formal name―Budgerigar―is a mystery, but by any name, this little bird is a charming companion for most pet owners.

Budgies aren't all fun and games, though, so before you bring one home, make sure you're not in for any surprises. Here are some key things to know about budgie birds.

Some people refer to budgies by their full name (Budgerigars), and some call them parakeets. Neither is exactly wrong, but neither is 100 percent correct, either. There are many different types of parakeets, and they come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.

Some parakeets, like the Indian Ringneck Parakeet, are very large, reaching lengths of up to 16 inches from head to tail, while budgies are much smaller. Because of these vast differences in size and more, it is more accurate to refer to these birds by their true name.