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Parakeet Facts

Parakeet Facts
Parakeet, also known as budgerigar (or budge) is a type of long-tailed parrot that belongs to the family of true parrots. There are 115 species of parakeet that can be found in areas with warm climate around the world. Parakeets inhabit woodlands, grasslands and other habitats that provide enough water. They are able to withstand sharp and unexpected changes in the weather conditions. In some parts of the world, parakeets are classified as pest because they destroy commercially important crops. Some species of parakeet are endangered due to habitat loss and over-collecting from the wild (due to increased demand for these birds in the industry of pets).
Interesting Parakeet Facts:
Parakeet can reach 7 inches in length and 0.9 to 1.4 ounces of weight.
Parakeet has yellow head and green body covered with black markings. Yellow-colored feathers contain fluorescent pigment that attracts opposite sex during the breeding season. Parakeet is covered with nearly 3.000 feathers.
Males and females can be distinguished via fleshy skin above the beak, also known as cere. Males have blue, while females have tan or brownish-colored cere. Also, females like to chew things, while males like to talk.
Parakeet has small, slender body and long tail. Its feet are X-shaped, with two toes oriented forward and two backward. Parakeet is able to rotate its head for 180 degrees.
Parakeet is an omnivore (it eats plants and meat). Its diet is based on seed, fruit, eucalyptus leaves, various types of ferns and insects.
Parakeet has a body temperature of 38.8 degrees of Celsius. Its heart produces 200 beats per minute.
Parakeet is nomadic bird that often changes location in the wild. It is able to travel hundreds of miles to find water.
Parakeet cleans its body by rolling in the wet grass.
Parakeets are social animals that live in large groups (flocks). Under ideal environmental conditions, they can form flocks composed of thousands of birds.
Natural enemies of parakeets are snakes and birds of prey.
Parakeets reproduce during the rainy season, when food is abundant. They produce two broods per year.
Female lays from 4 to 8 (one at a time) eggs during the period of 8 to 16 days. Nests are located inside the tree. Female uses the beak to expand cavity in the tree and create desirable shape of the nest. Eggs hatch after incubation period of 18 to 21 days.
Father provides food for the mother and his offspring. Young birds leave the nest 4 to 5 weeks after hatching.
Parakeets are one of the most popular cage birds in the world because they can learn to speak.
Parakeet can survive from 5 to 10 years in the wild and up to 29 years in the captivity.


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