English
The English budgerigar, often called the English budgie or show budgie, is a domesticated exhibition type of Melopsittacus undulatus developed from Australian budgerigars through selective breeding in Britain and later many other countries. Compared with the small pet-store budgie, English lines are commonly larger, deeper-bodied, and fuller-feathered, with a broad head, pronounced brow, dense mask, and large throat spots. They come in the normal green series and many established mutations, from blue and grey to cinnamon, opaline, pied, lutino, and albino.
In homes they can be gentle, observant birds, though their heavier build calls for generous cage space and opportunities to fly rather than only perch. Show breeders track family lines, color genetics, and conformation to a written standard, while also watching fertility, feather condition, eyesight, and weight. An English budgie chosen as a pet should be active, breathing quietly, and able to perch and preen freely; extreme facial feathering or a sedentary lifestyle can hide problems that a novice buyer may miss.
