Melopsittacus undulatus

15 Budgerigar at Tinderry, NSW

Melopsittacus undulatus at Tinderry, NSW - 25 Dec 2020
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Identification history

Melopsittacus undulatus 25 Dec 2020 MatthewFrawley
Melopsittacus undulatus 25 Dec 2020 TyrieStarrs

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Significant sighting

natureguy noted:

26 Dec 2020

These birds appear to be wild Budgies, judging from many wild-plumaged birds and the remote location of the sighting away from where you would expect an escapee to be found. There seems to be an influx of Budgies to the ACT region at the moment. This is a rare occurrence as Budgies are typically found further inland and most Budgies recorded locally are escapees. COG says that wild Budgies would likely be found only in drought times to escape harsher conditions inland. It seems interesting that the birds are here this year when there is so much rain, maybe they are dispersing widely because of the large availability of food. There are records of wild Budgies in the ACT region but it is a very rare occurrence, especially considering there are now multiple records from different locations of groups of wild birds.

User's notes

6 birds feeding on kangaroo grass

4 comments

   28 Dec 2020
Interesting record. As these are a largish group and green, one can make an argument that they arrived there from the west. However, they could also be escapees. I saw a young budgie at Franklin Grassland in early December - it was a lime green colour. I am very familiar with is species having breed them for many years. Given the large number of people keeping them, they are often escapees. Nice photo.
AaronClausen wrote:
   28 Dec 2020
I also note this sighting not that far away: Melopsittacus undulatus (Budgerigar)

perhaps there are a few that live around there (or a nearby budgie farm with regular escapees).
waltraud wrote:
   2 Jan 2021
For instance there are green budgies for sale in Bungendore; see https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bungendore/birds/budgies-for-sale/1262841704
The bird on the right hand side has a blue tail. I wonder whether that is an indication of escapees?
I also wonder whether off spring of escapees if they establish in the wild would be "falling back" to green? I don't know the genetics of bred budgies but I think it would be possible.
Jackief wrote:
   2 Aug 2023
Just spotted 2 at mackillop college campus in Canberra ACT
My son says he sees them often

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