A parakeet is Anybody of numerous compact to medium-sized species of parrot, in numerous genera, that normally have prolonged tail feathers. Older spellings nonetheless occasionally encountered are paroquet or paraquet. In American English, the word parakeet commonly refers to the budgerigar. The budgerigar is often a species of parakeet.
The name parakeet is derived from the French term perroquet. It can be having said that a pseudo-francism as perroquet indicates parrot in French, whilst the French for parakeet is perruche.
Parakeets comprise about one hundred fifteen species of birds that happen to be seed-eating parrots of small measurement, slender build, and extended, tapering tails.[1] The Australian budgerigar, also referred to as "budgie", Melopsittacus undulatus, is most likely the most typical parakeet. It was initial explained by zoologists in 1891. It truly is the most popular species of parakeet kept like a pet in North America and Europe.
A rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri).
The term "grass parakeet" (or grasskeet) refers to quite a few smaller Australian parakeets native to grasslands such as the genus Neophema along with the princess parrot. The Australian rosellas will also be parakeets. Most of the more compact, very long-tailed species of lories could be often called "lorikeets". The vernacular name ring-necked parakeet (to not be confused with the Australian ringneck) refers to the species on the genus Psittacula indigenous to Africa and Asia that may be well-known as a pet and has become feral in several cities exterior its normal range.
In aviculture, the time period "conure" is employed for compact to medium-sized parakeets on the genera Aratinga, Pyrrhura, and a few other genera with the tribe Arini, which are largely endemic to South The us. As they aren't all from just one genus, taxonomists are inclined to steer clear of the expression. Other South American species usually referred to as parakeets include things like the genus Brotogeris parakeets, the monk parakeet, and lineolated parakeets, Even though lineolateds have limited tails.
A bigger species might be generally known as "parrot" or "parakeet" interchangeably. By way of example, "Alexandrine parrot" and "Alexandrine parakeet" are two widespread names for the same species, Psittacula eupatria, which is amongst the major species Ordinarily often called a parakeet.
Numerous species of parakeets are bred and sold commercially as Animals, the budgerigar remaining the 3rd most favored pet on the globe,[two] just after cats and canines. Budgerigars are excellent Parakeets companions for just about any age and might be effortlessly qualified.
Parakeets normally breed much more readily in teams; nevertheless, there is often conflicts between breeding pairs and people today especially if space is proscribed. The presence of other parakeets encourages a pair to breed, Which is the reason breeding in a bunch is better, having said that lots of breeders choose to breed in pairs to stay away from conflicts and because that way they know obviously which dad and mom created any given birds. Parakeets deliver about 3 to 8 eggs on ordinary and they are able to have over four/six eggs.