{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "budgerigar",
  "name": "Budgerigar",
  "scientificName": "Melopsittacus undulatus",
  "category": "Bird",
  "summary": "The budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) is a small Australian parakeet and the world's most popular pet bird. In the wild it roams the dry inland scrub and grassland of Australia in huge flocks, feeding on grass seeds; as a pet it is prized for being friendly, hardy, and able to mimic speech. Budgies are about 18 cm long, weigh around 35 g, and fly fast at up to 40 km/h. They usually live 5 to 8 years, longer with good care.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Aves",
    "order": "Psittaciformes",
    "family": "Psittaculidae",
    "genus": "Melopsittacus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.035,
    "lengthM": 0.18,
    "topSpeedKmh": 40,
    "lifespanYears": 7
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Melopsittacus undulatus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Herbivore (grass seeds, plants)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Dry inland scrub and grassland (wild)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "5–8 years, longer with good care"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "About 18 cm (7 in)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 40 km/h (25 mph)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "The dry inland scrub and grassland of mainland Australia, where wild flocks roam in search of seeding grasses.",
    "continents": [
      "Oceania"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Melopsittacus undulatus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Melopsittacus%20undulatus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Melopsittacus undulatus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Melopsittacus_undulatus/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Budgerigar.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budgerigar"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/budgerigar/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/budgerigar/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}