Budgie colours explained

This guide explains the colours commonly seen in pet budgies, how they compare with the wild budgerigar, and why colour names may need checking with a seller.

Wild and pet colours

The wild budgerigar is green, with a yellow face and black barring on its head and back. This gives a reference point for understanding the colours seen in pet budgies, though pet birds are bred in many colours.

Green, blue, yellow and white are among the most common colours in pet budgies. These broad colour descriptions can help you understand what a seller means, but they do not provide a complete or standard naming system.

Colour names can vary

Budgie colour names are not used consistently by all breeders or across all countries. A name you encounter in one place may be described differently elsewhere, so the label alone may not make the bird’s appearance clear.

When you are looking at a particular bird, check how the seller describes its colour rather than assuming a term has the same meaning everywhere. If a name is unclear, ask the seller to explain the description they are using.

Colour and character

A budgie’s colour does not tell you its character. Green, blue, yellow or white plumage is not a basis for deciding what an individual bird will be like.

Keep appearance and character as separate considerations when reading about budgies or asking a seller about a bird. Colour names describe appearance; they should not be treated as a description of the bird’s character.