Parakeet - Species

Species

The term Grass Parakeet (or Grasskeet) refers to a large number of small Australian parakeets native to grasslands such as Neophema and Princess Parrot. The Australian rosellas are also parakeets. Many of the smaller, long-tailed species of lories may be referred to as lorikeets.

The Budgerigar Parakeet, also known as "Budgie" or English Parakeet, (Melopsittacus undulatus) is probably the most common Parakeet. The male can be distinguished from the female after about three months, when it first molts. With most color morphs, if the cere is brown or pinkish, the bird is female. If the cere is a bright blue, the bird is a male. In some breeds, however, the male may have a pinkish-purple cere and the female may have a pale blue, beige or white cere. If the cere has white rings around the nostrils, the bird is likely female. If the cere changes from blue to brown, the budgie likely has testicular cancer.

The term Ringnecked Parakeet refers to a species of the Psittacula genus native to Africa and Asia that is popular as a pet and has become feral in many cities. It should not be confused with the Australian Ringneck.

In aviculture the term conure is used for small to medium sized parakeets of the genera Aratinga, Pyrrhura, and a few other genere of the tribe Arini, which are mainly endemic to South America. As they are not all from one genus, taxonomists tend to dislike the term.

Other South American species commonly called parakeets include the Brotogeris parakeets, Monk Parakeet and Lineolated Parakeets (although Lineolated Parakeets have short tails).

Some species, especially the larger parakeets, may be referred to as "parrot" or "parakeet" interchangeably. For example, Alexandrine Parrot and Alexandrine Parakeet are different names for the same species, (Psittacula eupatria), one of the largest species called a parakeet.

Many different species of parakeets are often bred and sold commercially as pets, the Budgerigar being among the most commonly sold in the U.S.