BudgerigarBudgerigar – flocks & flights Budgerigar – nesting Budgerigar – juvenile Budgerigar – resting & roosting Budgerigar – water Budgerigar – mixed company Budgerigar – morphs & disabilities

In the wild, colour variation do on occasion occur in the Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). These natural-coloured mutations are a result of variation and amount of the different types of melanin and psittacin pigments to be found in the feathers of the budgerigars.

The most common colour occurring in the wild-type budgerigar is a colour called Lightgreen (also spelt Light Green).

….. budgerigars, contain both a black type of melanin named eumelanin along with a basic yellow pigment named psittacofulvin (psittacin for short). Some other parrot species produces a third pigment named advanced-psittacin which enables color & tones ranging from oranges, peaches, pinks to reds. When these feathers are exposed to a white light source, such as sunlight, only the blue part of the spectrum is reflected by the eumelanin granules. This reflected blue light passes through the yellow pigment layer, resulting in the green colouration known as lightgreen in only the budgerigar …..1

Budgerigar colour genetics, Wikipedia

Check out the footnote links for more in-depth information on this topic.

The following budgerigar appears to have either sustained an injury or was born with a deformity, but continues to survive.


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Psittaciformes
  • Family: Psittaculidae
  • Genus: Melopsittacus
  • Species: M. undulatus
  • Binomial name: Melopsittacus undulatus

Footnote & References

  1. Budgerigar colour genetics, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budgerigar_colour_genetics (last visited Sept. 25, 2021).
  2. Budgie Info, by Toni Poad, https://www.budgie-info.com/budgie-colours.html
  3. Budgie Colour Types, Omlet, https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/budgies/varieties_and_types/colours/
  4. Boiled Eggs and Budgies…, Blog JeLa D / Dorothy L, https://ausemade.com.au/boiled-eggs-and-budgies/

BudgerigarBudgerigar – flocks & flights Budgerigar – nesting Budgerigar – juvenile Budgerigar – resting & roosting Budgerigar – water Budgerigar – mixed company Budgerigar – morphs & disabilities

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