Hey! We are the most popular pet bird species in the world. We are called as Albino Budgerigars. We are one of the color mutations of normal Budgerigars.
Take a look at some interesting points about us:
- We are one of the several color mutations of normal budgerigars. We are white in color caused due to Ino gene which removes all the dark colors on our body.
- We can mimic human voices and also surrounding sounds making us one of the favorite pets in the world. We also play, whistle, and perform simple tasks.
- Some people think we are unhealthy as we are mutated species. It is not true! We are quite healthy if we are taken care of well and our lifespan is similar to normal budgerigars.
- We were first recorded in September 1931. Mr. E Bohm of Germany bred a pair of budgerigars and a snow-white red-eyed female was born. Exactly a year later Mr. Fischer of Germany recorded second Albino.
- We are now being born in several controlled areas like Zoological parks and Aviaries.
SOME QUICK FACTS ABOUT US:
Our Scientific Name: Melopsittacus Undulatus.
Identification: Small white parrots with yellow beak and pinkish feet.
Our Habitat: Aviaries, Zoological parks and other controlled areas.
Our Range:
Food Habits: Herbivorous; feed mainly on seeds of grasses and other crops.
Breeding Period: throughout the year.
Number of eggs laid: 4-6 eggs.
Incubation period: 18-21 days.
Lifespan: about 21 years.
IUCN red list status: Least Concern.
CITES: Appendix II.
Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule IV.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Melopsittacus
Species: M. undulatus
COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT US FOR ANIMAL ENTHUSIASTS:
We are the white color mutation of regular budgerigars and we are also called Ino budgerigars along with Lutino budgerigars.
Albino budgerigar are scientifically called as Melopsittacus Undulatus.
Let us tell you more about our species.
HOW WE LOOK:
We are just like any normal parrots with a body length of about 18cm, a wingspan of about 30cm and weighing 30gms-40gms. Normal budgerigars have yellow foreheads, yellow and black striped head, and purple and black marks on cheeks.
Their wings are yellow, and tail is green and blue green in color.
However, we are Albino Budgerigars, meaning we are one of the color mutations of normal budgerigars. We are bred by removing all the Ino gene from our body which is responsible for dark colors.
This leads to our making. We are completely white in color with yellow beak and pinkish legs. Males and females look similar to each other and the young also look similar to adults.
WE ARE FOUND IN:
As budgerigar species we are native to Australia but since we are Albino budgerigars, we are artificially bred in environments such as Zoos, Aviaries and other controlled areas. We are bred in various parts of the world outside of our native range.
WHAT WE EAT:
We are herbivorous birds. We exclusively eat seeds of grass and other crops
OUR REPRODUCTION:
We are monogamous birds (having a single mate in a lifetime). Breeding season is throughout the year. We are bred in controlled environment. The female lays 4-6 eggs at a time and the incubation period is 18-21 days. The young chicks are taken care of by females as well as the caretakers. We have a lifespan of about 21 years.
MORE ABOUT US:
We are one of the most widely petted species. We are well-known for our ability to mimic human voices and also other voices of the surroundings.
We love to play, talk, whistle and perform simple tasks.
Along with us, Budgerigars have other color mutations like Blue, crested, dark, opaline, spangled, violet, dilute, pied, clear-winged, and cinnamon-ino.
There is a misconception that since we are mutated species, we are less healthy. It is not true!
OUR CONSERVATION:
We are artificially produced species and we are not threatened. We, as budgerigars are listed as “Least Concern” in the red list of IUCN. We are also listed in CITES Appendix II and also protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 Schedule IV.
