Parakeet facts for kids
A parakeet is a type of small to medium-sized parrot. They usually have long tail feathers. You might sometimes see them called "paroquet" or "paraquet."
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Where Does the Name Come From?
The word "parakeet" comes from the French word perroquet. But this is a bit tricky! In French, perroquet actually means "parrot." The French word for a parakeet is perruche. So, it's a bit of a mix-up in how the word came into English.
Different Kinds of Parakeets
There are many different kinds of parakeets! They live all over the world.
Popular Pet Parakeets
The Australian budgerigar, often called a "budgie," is probably the most common parakeet. Scientists first described it in 1891. Budgies are the most popular type of parakeet kept as pets in places like North America and Europe. They are great companions and can be easily trained. In fact, budgerigars are the third most popular pets in the world, after cats and dogs!
Another popular pet is the rose-ringed parakeet. These birds are from Africa and Asia. You might even see them living wild in some cities outside their natural home.
Other Parakeet Types
The term "grass parakeet" refers to many small Australian parakeets. They live in grasslands. Examples include birds from the Neophema group and the princess parrot. Australian rosellas are also a type of parakeet.
Some smaller, long-tailed lories are called "lorikeets." These birds are known for eating nectar and pollen.
In the world of bird keeping, "conure" is a name for small to medium-sized parakeets. Most conures are from South America. They include birds from the Aratinga and Pyrrhura groups. Other South American parakeets include the Brotogeris parakeets, the monk parakeet, and lineolated parakeets.
Sometimes, a larger bird might be called both a "parrot" and a "parakeet." For example, the Alexandrine parakeet is one of the largest birds usually called a parakeet. It can also be called an "Alexandrine parrot."
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Parakeets often breed more easily when they are in groups. However, sometimes breeding pairs can have arguments, especially if they don't have much space. Having other parakeets around can encourage a pair to breed. Many breeders choose to breed pairs separately. This helps avoid fights and makes it clear which parents produced which baby birds. Parakeets usually lay about three to eight eggs.
Images for kids
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Male and female parakeet at Vedanthangal, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Blue Australian budgerigar
