Anyone have both English and American budgies?

[sharpchick]

If you do, how do they interact together? I know you aren't supposed to cage them together, but I assume as long as they are supervised, both could be out for play at the same time, couldn't they?

And what, if any, are the differences in temperment?

[AmandaB]

There is no such thing as American budgies. I know that's what some people call them, but it's not what they are. There are your run of the mill budgies, from Australia, and English budgies. I have 2 that I was told are half English, one is bigger than my others, his chest is wider and rounder. I have all 6 of my guys in a large flight cage, they get along just fine. They have their status though, and when they were in smaller cages clashed a bit.

I don't think there is much difference between the two, other than size. I've never heard that you aren't supposed to cage them together, that sounds absurd to me. They are the same bird, only the English are specially bred to be bigger, as show birds. They aren't humongous or anything.

[Monica]

English and American budgies can be housed together, as the english aren't that much larger than the american (even if there seems to be a huge difference).

The american type tend to be more hyper, more ready to play with toys, while the english (from my understanding) are more passive, and also tend to have a shorter lifespan. A lot of the american budgies also have english blood in them, though they all have a common ancestor, the wild australian budgie.

I only have two budgies, both of wich are american, however I do suspect that one has some english blood in him because he is larger than the other, but not as big as an english (though then again he may just be a large american budgie). Cosmo (the larger, and older one at about 10yrs old) is getting into his prime so he is calmer and more passive, doesn't really play with toys much, but enjoys eating food. Smurf (around 6yrs old) loves to flirt, and try courting others (if not toys). They are caged together in a flight cage, and usually get along though they do occasionally have their times.

[AmandaB]

So are you saying they are American because they live here, or what? Then wouldn't we have Russian budgies, Irish budgies, Swiss budgies? I'm not trying to start an arguement, it just sounds ridiculous that a bird native of Australia would be called American. Would my Indian and African Ringnecks be American ringnecks then, because they were bred here in the US? Or any parrot for that matter?

I'd like to know the reasoning behind calling them American......

[Monica]

The english budgies are called english because they were selectively bred for size or for an 'ideal form'. They are also bred for the abilitiy to raise their crest. They are also called exhibition budgies or even show budgies. In a way, it's just a name to explain the type. English budgies usually are more passive, and calmer than their counterparts, the american. They also tend to have shorter lifespans, tend to be somewhat harder to breed, and with breeding, they tend to have more breeding (phsycial) problems than the american breed... They may tend to have more problems with obesity or other health problems.

The american budgies are also referred to as the pet budgies, wild type budgies, or even as 'normal' budgies. They are more hyper and outgoing, usually are easy to breed though still tend to have the same health problems as that of an english budgie, just not to the extent that has been noted. The main thing about the american budgies is that when they were brought to America, they were bred to be pets, not show birds so nothing in particular was bred for except for the pet trade. They are of course much like the australian budgies except that they probably have more health problems, and come in a wide range of colors that the australian budgies don't. However, I DO know that australian budgies were also bred for the pet trade specifically in Australia itself, and that colors have come about. The name 'american budgie' just refers to the bird that it is NOT english.

However, some people ask what the difference is between a parakeet and a budgie, when they are refering to a parakeet as the 'american' budgie, and the budgie as the 'english' budgie. They are ALL budgies, yes, however the english name sets them apart from the others as a BREED of budgie. The 'american' budgies are the 'normal' breed where-as the 'english' budgies were specifically bred. So in saying that there is no difference between an american budgie and an australian budgie, you are right, Amanda.

In truth, this is nothing to argue about... what is something to argue about is this...

What is the difference between a parakeet and a budgerigar (budgie)?

A budgie refers to melopsittacus undulatus, which is the latin name for the budgerigar. Unfortunately, these birds are often sold under pet stores listed as parakeets. Budgies are not parakeets because they are not small parrots. They are a totally different kind of hookbill. A true parakeet is a bird such as the ringneck or grass parakeet. Sometimes people will talk about parakeets and actually mean American budgie. Conversely, some say 'budgie' and refer to English Budgies. Most people are familiar with the term parakeet.

In my belief, a budgie IS a parrot, and a small one at that. They are also parakeets which means a small parrot with a long tail. However, some parakeet definitions say "a parrot with a long tail", which includes macaws. I know for a fact that in latin words, para is from parrot, and keet meaning small, so therefore macaw does not fit the difinition of a parakeet. In scientific terms, the largest parakeet is the patagonian conure, or the alexandrine parrot...

[basketbagley]

Everything Monica is saying is true. My breeder has both English and Normal budgies and often breeds her normals back the the English to maintain health and size. another way to look at is like cats. A persian and an american short hair are both cats, and can both be bred together, but are a pure breed of a specific breed of cat. same goes for the two types of Budgies. and now there is also a crested bugdie, which I personal do not care for and I've even seen a feather duster budgie! I also don't care for.

Interesting Monica that some people don't consider them parrots?! They have a hooked bill? hmm.....

[AmandaB]

I knew why the English budgie is called just that, I was not questioning that at all. Nor did I bring up the parakeet/budgie name difference. I do have budgies, and have done my research as well. It just gets on my nerves to hear a normal budgie called an American budgie, it is not a subspecies, which I'm pretty sure the English budgie isn't either. Budgies are bred all over the world as pets, not just America. If we can't refer to them as Australian budgies, how bout we keep it simple and true, and just call them normal budgies and English budgies.

The feather duster is not really a species of budgie, it is actually a disease. I have seen a few pics of the crested budgie, but that was a while ago.

[Monica]

The crested and duster budgies are actually a mutation, not a disease nor a different species, sort of speaking. A crested budgie is much like a 'cow lick' in humans where if their hair is too short it will stick straight up (just think about the kid Alfalfa...). The feather duster is believed to be caused by a recessive gene that creates a 'mistake'. The feather dusters however do need special care because their feathers do not grow right (lacking of normal barb and barbules of the feathers). You could also call it a birth defect if you whish, however it is believed to be a mutation having to deal with genes and when the genes seperate (from DNA to RNA and back to DNA) there is believed to be a problem with the seperation, replacement, etc of the genes that causes this. It's similar to some of the birth defects in humans that are caused by a problem in the genes while the child was being 'created'.

As far as the 'american' vs 'normal' name for the widely known budgies that are not english, you'll have just as great of time getting people to stop saying 'american' as you will have getting them to stop calling them parakeets. In truth, I hate it when people call them parakeets because many people who buy them think oh its just a parakeet, not a parrot, it only needs seed, water, a mirror, maybe one or two other toys, a small cage and it'll be fine! The 'american' budgie is not a subspecies, and no the english budgie is not either, however the english budgie is a different breed of budgie than the normal one because it was specifically bred.

Instead of calling them american budgie, normal budgie, australia budgie, parakeet, or whatever one wishes, it would be easier, indeed, to just call them budgies and english budgies. However, far too many people sell them as parakeets, and many will tell you that parakeets are american budgies but then again we can't change the entire world nor everyones opinions or ideas....