Budgerigar
BudgerigarBudgerigarBudgerigarBudgerigar

Budgerigar

Melopsittacus undulatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Saguaro National Park
8 Verified sightings at Saguaro National Park From 2019 to 2026
421 Verified sightings across all 23 parks From 2019 to 2026
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Budgerigar

The budgerigar ( BUJ-ər-ih-gar, -⁠ə-ree-; Melopsittacus undulatus), also known as the common parakeet, shell parakeet or budgie ( BUJ-ee), is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot native to Australia. Naturally, the species is green and yellow with black, scalloped markings on the nape, back, and wings. Budgies are bred in captivity with colouring of blues, whites, yellows, greys, and even with small crests. Juveniles and chicks are monomorphic (the sexes are visually indistinguishable), while adults are told apart by their cere colouring and their behaviour.

The species is monotypic, meaning it is the only member of the genus Melopsittacus, which is the only genus in the tribe Melopsittacini. The budgerigar is closely related to lories and the fig parrots. The origin of the budgerigar's name is unclear. First recorded in 1805, budgerigars are popular pets around the world due to their small size, low cost, and ability to mimic human speech. They are the third most popular pet in the world, after the domesticated dog and cat. Budgies are nomadic flock parakeets that have been bred in captivity since the 19th century. In both the wild and in captivity, budgerigars breed opportunistically and in pairs.

They are found wild throughout the drier parts of Australia, where they have survived harsh inland conditions for over five million years. Their success can be attributed to a nomadic lifestyle and their ability to breed while on the move. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park

Peach-faced Lovebird
LC

Peach-faced Lovebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agapornis roseicollis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Cockatiel
LC Endemic

Cockatiel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nymphicus hollandicus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~50%
2 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
3 Flinders Ranges National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
4 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
5 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
6 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
8 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
9 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
10 Cape Range 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
11 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
12 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
13 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
14 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
15 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
16 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
17 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
18 Itatiaia National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
19 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
Insufficient data
20 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
21 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
22 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
23 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Budgerigar in Saguaro National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Budgerigar sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Budgerigar in Saguaro National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Budgerigar in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.

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