How Much Does a Budgerigar Cost? A Detailed Guide to Telling Males from Females

The budgerigar, also known as the budgie, comes in a wide variety of breeds and is a pet bird much loved by the general public. So, how much does a budgerigar cost? How do you tell males from females? Let's find out together!

1. How much does a budgerigar cost?

The price of a budgerigar varies depending on factors such as the breed and the market location. Generally, a cloud-pattern budgerigar costs about 35-80 yuan per pair, a large-headed budgerigar about 120 yuan each, and an adult budgerigar about 40 yuan each (78 yuan per pair). In the Beijing pet market, a budgerigar costs about 25-60 yuan each; in Nanjing, about 25 yuan each; in Xuzhou, a blue opaline gene budgerigar costs about 38 yuan each, and a budgerigar about 28-35 yuan each; in Shanghai, a baby budgerigar costs about 59-128 yuan each, a yellow cloud-pattern budgerigar about 48-109 yuan each, a large-headed budgerigar about 160 yuan each, and a yellow red-eyed baby budgerigar about 108 yuan each. It is best to check the market prices at your local pet market.

2. How do you tell male and female budgerigars apart?

1. Young budgerigars

The cere of a male bird is basically pink, which applies to young birds after they leave the nest at one month old, because in young birds the nasal membrane is congested early on, making it hard to judge; the area around the nostrils of a female is white, and occasionally pink as well, though very pale. Overall, young budgerigars are not easy to sex.

2. Sub-adult birds

In males, depending on the breed, the cere is generally blue; recessive pied males and double-factor dominant pied males are pink, lifelong peach-pink with a touch of purple. In females, the area around the nostrils is white with a very pale blue outer edge, or the cere is white.

3. Adult budgerigars

In males, depending on the breed, the cere is generally blue; recessive pied males and double-factor dominant pied males are pink, lifelong peach-pink with a touch of purple. Some females have a white cere, which may be during the ebb phase of the breeding season; some females have not yet reached the breeding season; and some have a wrinkled, tea-brown cere, which indicates that the female is in the breeding season.

3. How long does a budgerigar live?

The average lifespan of a budgerigar is about 7-10 years, and with careful keeping it can be longer. The lifespan of a parrot is generally divided into physiological lifespan and actual lifespan. Excluding all environmental factors and external accidents, a budgerigar could generally live to about 50 years, but this is under ideal conditions; under ordinary conditions it is 7-10 years.

The above is the Tuliu.com editor's introduction to budgerigars. We hope it helps you!