Bourke's Parakeet

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

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The quiet parrot people walk past

Bourke's parakeets are small Australian birds, about 7 to 8 inches, with a soft brown back and a wash of rose on the belly. Pet birds are often pinker than the wild ones because of color mutations. Noise is genuinely low. They mutter, they do not scream, and they tend to be busiest around dawn and dusk. That crepuscular clock is the trait that surprises new owners who expected a budgie's all-day chatter.

Lifespan on the quick facts is 15 to 25 years. Believe the long end when you are counting. A Bourke is a beginner bird in temperament and a long commitment in years.

Space, shyness, food

Give them the minimum cage in the quick facts, 24 by 24 by 36 inches, or a flight cage if you keep a pair. Bar spacing should be narrow enough that a small parrot cannot put its head through. They fly more than they climb. Perches at both ends, a swing if they use it, and cover at one end so a shy bird can step out of view.

They can be kept as a bonded pair or as a single bird that gets calm daily attention. Grabbing them to prove they are tame sets the relationship back. Step-up, offered at their pace, works better. They are not a talking breed. A whistle or a contact call is the realistic party trick.

Feed pellets, vegetables, and a measured seed mix. Sprouted seed is useful. Sunflower seed as the whole diet is not. Fresh water daily. They are ground-foraging birds in the wild, so a bit of scattered food on a clean tray is enrichment.

Illness looks like stillness

A Bourke sitting fluffed at the bottom, breathing with the tail, or dropping weight is sick. Respiratory infection from dusty, stale air and obesity from seed are the common owner-caused problems. Egg binding can hit a female that is laying on a poor diet. Find an avian vet through the AAV before the emergency. The quiet-bird page describes the "too still" look, and the checker is there for the sorting step.

Purchase prices are often under a few hundred dollars, and the cage costs more than the bird. This is a strong apartment parrot for someone who wants company without a megaphone. It is a weak choice if you wanted a shoulder bird that talks back.

Bourke's parakeet for a quiet house

Are Bourke's parakeets loud?

No. They chatter softly and get busier at dawn and dusk. They are one of the few parrots that suit a shared wall, as long as you still give them light and company.

When are they active?

They are crepuscular. You will see more movement early and late, and a midday nap that looks lazy and is normal.

What do they eat?

A small-parrot pellet, a limited parakeet seed mix, and vegetables. A seed-only cup is how these calm birds get fat and short-lived.

Are they beginner birds?

Yes, if you wanted a gentle parrot and not a talking project. They are shy, not stupid, and they do not enjoy being grabbed.