A parakeet is any one of numerous little to medium-sized species of parrot, in several genera, that commonly have extensive tail feathers. Older spellings even now sometimes encountered are paroquet or paraquet. In American English, the phrase parakeet typically refers back to the budgerigar. The budgerigar is usually a species of parakeet.

The title parakeet is derived within the French phrase perroquet. It is even so a pseudo-francism as perroquet signifies parrot in French, whilst the French for parakeet is perruche.

Parakeets comprise about a hundred and fifteen species of birds which have been seed-eating parrots of modest dimensions, slender Develop, and extensive, tapering tails.[one] The Australian budgerigar, also called "budgie", Melopsittacus undulatus, might be the most common parakeet. It absolutely was to start with explained by zoologists in 1891. It really is the most well-liked species of parakeet saved as being a pet in North America and Europe.

A rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri).

The time period "grass parakeet" (or grasskeet) refers to a lot of smaller Australian parakeets indigenous to grasslands including the genus Neophema as well as princess parrot. The Australian rosellas are also parakeets. Most of the scaled-down, extensive-tailed species of lories might be referred to as "lorikeets". The vernacular title ring-necked parakeet (never to be baffled While using the Australian ringneck) refers to some species on the genus Psittacula indigenous to Africa and Asia that is certainly well-known to be a pet and is now feral in many metropolitan areas outside its normal array.

In aviculture, the term "conure" is used for little to medium-sized parakeets on the genera Aratinga, Pyrrhura, and some other genera on the tribe Arini, that happen to be generally endemic to South America. As they aren't all from a single genus, taxonomists are likely to stay away from the time period. Other South American species typically identified as parakeets include the genus Brotogeris parakeets, the monk parakeet, and lineolated parakeets, Despite the fact that lineolateds have small tails.

A bigger species could be generally known as "parrot" or "parakeet" interchangeably. For instance, "Alexandrine parrot" and "Alexandrine parakeet" are two common names for the same species, Psittacula eupatria, which is probably the most significant species normally referred to as a parakeet.

A number of species of parakeets are bred and sold commercially as pets, the budgerigar becoming the third hottest pet on this planet,[two] soon after cats and canines. Budgerigars are perfect companions for any age and might be quickly properly trained.

Parakeets frequently breed extra readily in teams; even so, there is often conflicts concerning breeding pairs and people today particularly if Place is restricted. The presence of other parakeets encourages a pair to breed, Which is the reason breeding in a group is best, however quite a few breeders elect to breed in pairs to stop conflicts and since that way they periquitos australianos know obviously which dad and mom created any presented birds. Parakeets deliver about three to 8 eggs on typical and they will have around four/6 eggs.