Budgerigar is the world’s most beloved pet bird. They are courteous and friendly and love playful interactions with their owner. They are also known as budgies or parakeets.
If you are seeking a delightful companion, budgies are an excellent choice. They typically live 10-15 years but thrive when kept in pairs and you do proper care.
Although it is a single species of the parrot family, breeding has given rise to various unique color variations.
This article discusses the different spectrums of budgie colors with their specific features and characteristics. So keep reading to learn more!
13 Types of Budgerigar Parakeet Breeds
There is only one species of budgerigar. However, multiple color variants or mutations are available. The exact number of morphs depends upon the different breeding organizations.
Thirteen distinct variants are categorized based on color, marking, patterns, and mutation. Let’s dive into detail to learn more about these types.
Light Green
Light green is the original Budgerigar color and all other variations from this basic color pattern.
They have light green bellies and lower bodies. They have strong yellow traits, so their feathers have some yellow.
Their head and neck are yellow, while dark black feathers are on their back and wings.
White and yellow strings on wings and backs come from the head and neck.
Some spots are also present around the neck and mouth.
Sky Blue
The genetic makeup of sky-blue budgies closely resembles light green budgies. The only difference is that they have white base rather than yellow.
They have beautiful azure hues on their chest and abdomen. You can also find contrasting black plumage and white stripes on their tail and back.
Head has a whitish complexion, while their beaks are vibrant yellow.
Dark Green and Olive
In Budgie genetics, dark genes between these two budgie morphs are governed by a factor system.
If the factory system is absent, the birds take on the light green identity. However, the dark green budgie comes in the presence of a single darkness factor. Their chest and belly become dark.
When the two dark factors are present, an olive budgie emerges—its chest and belly color changes. However, budgies with any factor darkness mutation have some yellow heads.
Cobalt and Mauve
Like dark green and olive parakeets, cobalt and mauve depend on specific genes for color variation.
Cobalt budgie has a periwinkle chest underparts and white heads. There are beautiful black and white stripes on the back.
Mauve parakeets have two dark factors but still have a subtle shade of grey than cobalt. Their undertone is slightly purple, making it different.
Violet
Although violet budgies look like cobalt budgies, their chest varies distinctly. Instead of violet, they have a purple chest.
They are produced by selective breeding: when sky blue budgies inherit two violet factors or cobalt budgies bestow a single violet factor.
The balance between these genetic elements results in the enchanting allure of beautiful violet budgie.
Grey Wing
Instead of mutation in color vibrancy, grey-wing budgies are affected by dilution mutation. As a result, the plumage shades drain.
The level of dilution varies on different parts depending on the specific diluted morph. In growing budgies, the black strike on heads changes into grey.
You can preserve the color through selective breeding, but it’s worth nothing. This mutation occurs in both yellow-based and white-based parakeets.
Yellow Face
Have you ever heard about “Creamy Hue”? Breeders mostly use this when a bird manifests a position between a yellow and white budgie.
As the name indicates, a color morph in the yellowface budgie impacts the facial area.
There are two types of yellow face budgie.
- Type I has only a yellow face
- Type II has an entire yellow body
Albino
Are you familiar with the term Albinism? Well! It is a genetic condition where DNA mutations occur that regulate pigmentation in feathers, scales, and skin.
Albino budgies have all-white skin with red eyes and pink feet.
Albino budgies inherit these recessive genes from both parents. The budgerigar’s sex influences the inheritance pattern.
Lutino
Like Albino, there is a genetic mutation but with a yellow base. They carry the albino gene, resulting in light yellow feathers and red eyes.
Lutino exhibits two additional traits.
- Cinnamon coloration
- Yellowface
Therefore, predicting offspring traits is challenging. But we know one thing: the father must be the carrier for lutino chicks.
Dominant Pied
Another budgerigar parakeet breed is dominant pied. And as the name indicates, the dominant pied budgies exhibit various colors with yellow and white bases.
They are different from others as they have prominent stripes that match the dominant base and run along their body.
There is only one difference from recessive pieds: their eye color tends to lighten with time.
Recessive Pied
Recessive Pied has a blend of multiple colors in their plumage, with a prominent bias depending upon the base color.
For example, recessive pied tilts towards white if you have a cobalt budgie with a white base. This unique trait is recessive and can only be inherited if both parents are recessive mottled or carriers.
Cinnamon
Do you love brown feather budgies instead of black? We have good news for you as you find the color mutation in cinnamon budgerigars in yellow and white base budgies.
Opaline
Related to other morphs, opaline is rare. They have lighter heads as compared to other species. They have substantial body color patches adorned with small grey and black patches.
FAQs
Are Budgies and Parakeets the Same?
Both are the same. In the United States, these birds are known as parakeets, while budgies in the rest of the world.
However, some believe that they have some taxonomy but are different.
Which Colour is Most Common?
White and blue are the most popular colours in parakeets. However, they vary in the degree of darkness factor.
What Are the 2 Base Colour Budgies?
They are divided into two basic categories.
- White base budgie
- Yellow base budgie
What type of Pet Budgie Parakeets are?
They are affectionate, loving, and social birds. They love to spend time with their owner and easily get attached. They are noisy and sometimes get angry and depressed.
Conclusion:
Budgerigar is scientifically known as Melopsittacus. They are among the most affectionate and loving pet birds. They exhibit a single primary color on their chest, back, and underside.
But they also possess another core on their plumage, which displays many patterns. Through selective breeding, many breeders produce almost 13 budgerigar parakeet breeds with different color morphs.