Budgerigars in their habitat

by Laura

Native budgies in Australia

Native budgies in Australia

Where in Australia is the best place to see budgies in their native habitat? As these birds are nomadic when is the best time to see them?
I am planning my trip around them as I adore these birds and want to see them in the wild.

Laura

Rita's Reply


Hi Laura,

I am with you, budgies are beautiful birds. Seeing flocks of budgies in the Australian bush is an amazing sight.

Your question where you can see them is hard to answer. I saw them in the Northern Territory, along the Stuart Highway, and also in the far south west of Queensland.

They feed on spinifex and grass seeds. After the huge floodings this year food must be abundant for budgies, so they can be everywhere in the open habitats of the Australian bushland.

So, if anyone has seen budgies on their recent trips, please comment here, and let Laura know where she should go.

Rita

Comments for Budgerigars in their habitat

Click here to add your own comments

Mar 20, 2024
 Blue budgie in Lakemba NEW
by: Anonymous

To the previous poster - that budgie will have been an escaped pet, in the wild they are green only. They also don't travel solo. I learned this when meeting a "pearl" coloured solo cockatiel - I was delighted to meet the little cutie but afterwards realised it was an escaped pet - the colouring didn't exist in the wild and it was alone (with a group of galahs). Hopefully they are living their best life :)
Mar 09, 2024
 where the budgies are located NEW
by: Anonymous

My family friend went to a park located in Lakemba, Sydney and a blue budgie landed on her shoulder.
Feb 15, 2024
 Budgies and temperature NEW
by: Tom

In the budgie's natural habitat, temperatures can drop to a few degrees below zero in mid winter, but it is a very dry cold. They're most comfortable in mild temperatures, but are very well adapted to limit movement during the heat of the day and to roost in protective trees through cold nights.
Feb 15, 2024
 Budgies minimum temperature in the wild
by: Anonymous

What is the lowest temperature budgies have been seen?
Dec 21, 2023
 Budges
by: Robert

Working at Olympic Dam are seeing thousands of wild budgies . Have work there for 12 years never seen them before Even some locals have never seen them before . A lot of Zebra Finches as well
Nov 09, 2022
 Budgies galore
by: Anonymous

Just been travelling South to North through Flinders Ranges SA over past week. Each day we are amazed at how many budgerigars there are in trees and doing a fly past - very happy birds looking well fed.
Jun 11, 2022
 Wild buddies WA NEW
by: Anonymous

On the outskirts of Marble Bay prospecting in the common area. Flocks of them watering just after sunrise
Jun 11, 2022
 Wild buddies WA NEW
by: Anonymous

On the outskirts of Marble Bay prospecting in the common area. Flocks of them watering just after sunrise
Oct 11, 2020
 We lost our two budgies NEW
by: Anonymous

Hopefully they found the budgies out in the outback
Oct 06, 2019
 Budgies - Timing
by: Sheldon

Any thoughts on the best time of the year to see Budgies in the Alice Springs area?
May 17, 2018
 budgies
by: Ashley Smith

this is not helpful if it was meant to be
Apr 22, 2018
 Budgies over Brisbane
by: Anontony

I wouldn't be surprised to see Budgies flying over Brisbane. The outback is going through a very dry time at the moment, so Budgies, being the smart little birds that they are, may very well head to the coastal regions in search of water.
Apr 22, 2018
 Budgies in Brisbane
by: Anonymous

I'm about 90% sure that I saw a flock of budgerigars flying across the suburb of Mount Gravatt East, Brisbane, yesterday, 22 April 2018, at a distance of about 200 metres from me. Is this well known? In my 53 years of living in Brisbane, I've never before seen this occurrence. They were flying strongly and noisily and therefore must have been wild. This area is well patronaged by rainbow lorikeets, some greenies and pale faced rosellas (which don't fly in flocks), but this was very different in sound. Unless I was experiencing coffee-induced hallucinations, I am pretty confident in what I saw and heard.
Apr 07, 2018
 Let the birds free
by: Anonymous

It is my well thought of opinion that birds are meant to be free and should not be imprisoned in cages for the selfish enjoyment of humans. If humans want to look at colors, get a cage and place colored ribbons in it with some branches and toy budgies.

I say this because I have seen so many budgies bought from pet stores and placed in small cages with inadequate everything. This is very saddening.

Please encourage and educate people you meet on this issue.

Budgie abuse is quite common. Single birds left alone in small cages, eggs destroyed, or allowed to hatch on human hands and nonchalantly given away.

Free the birds.

Sep 23, 2017
 Coober pedy gems
by: Anonymous

Just been coming down the stuart hwy from Alice. Have seen quite a number of flocks around Coober Pedy. Lots out at the breakaways. The kids and I pretended we were underwater and they were a school of fish 😆
Aug 16, 2017
 Budgies - Alice Springs
by: Sheldon

Thanks Tony.
Aug 16, 2017
 Budgie breeding season
by: Tony B

As far as I know, there is no specific breeding season. Rather, they tend to breed when the opportunity arises, particularly after rain. Being monogamous, they don't have to waste time looking for a mate; they are all set to go as soon as the rain arrives, which generally happens at any time of the year.
Aug 07, 2017
 Budgies
by: Sheldon

Thanks for the info, Tony. When is the local Budgie breeding season, mid-winter? I assume that corresponds with the rainy season in the outback?
Aug 03, 2017
 Budgies and cockatiels
by: Tony B

I've seen budgies all over the Outback, especially during breeding season, which starts about now, (provided there's enough drinking water in their vicinity).

Cockatiels are a different matter, (for me,anyway), I haven't seen too many during my travels. Maybe they don't flock together as much as budgerigars or maybe I've missed them when I've been concentrating on other things like road conditions.

Good luck.
Aug 02, 2017
 Budgies - Alice Springs
by: Sheldon

I am planning a trip to Australia and getting to see wild Budgies and Cockatiels in their native habitat would be a key part of the trip. I know they are essentially nomadic and prefer the interior, but would like to find a location with a reasonably good chance of seeing them. The Alice Springs area seems to come up as a good Budgie/Cockatiel area, any thoughts on this? Thanks.
Jun 20, 2017
 Mystic Ct aquarium
by: Anonymous

Here they have an aviary filled with budgies and other Australian birds that you can feed. It is wonderful.
Jun 17, 2017
 WA
by: PaulineAnonymous

We have just seen hundreds of them north of Canarvan, amazing ! I thought that they were only in the Eastern states.
Mar 14, 2017
 North Queensland
by: Kelly

I saw a flock of budgies up at North Queensland recently.
Nov 03, 2016
 Where I find them
by: Anonymous

I found them in pelican waters and near the great dividing range why?
Oct 12, 2016
 Where to find budgies
by: Tom

I've just returned from a trip around South Australia and found budgies in a few places along William Creek Road (between Coober Pedy and William Creek). I've also seen them all around Alice Springs, in Western Queensland, the Northern Territory and in Western Australia. I've never seen them near the coast.

The best bet is to get out into the arid areas on one of the well graded dirt roads and drive until you cross a creek, even if it's recently dried up. Creeks that have water often enough always have trees along them, so you can see from a long way off that you're getting near one. Stop at the creek and listen, budgies make the same sounds that domestic budgies do so it's easy to recognise. Then walk towards the sound. They're not too worried about people so you can generally get within 10m or so - well within range of a good camera, or just enjoy seeing them in their natural habitat.
Sep 26, 2016
 Lovely
by: Rita

Thank you for sharing your videos, Charlotte. It is always exciting to see budgies in nature.
Sep 26, 2016
 Breeding budgies at Roma Gorge Track
by: Charlotte

We found a breeding flock (I've counted nearly 400 on one of my pictures) at the 30th of August at and around the Roma Gorge Track at the West MacDonnel Ranges close to Alice Springs.
We could watch them feeding, flying, flirting, cuddling, feeding their chicks. It was really awesome!
Now probably quite a few of the young came out of their nests.

Here 2 of the videos that I could make.
Apr 25, 2016
 Budgie sighting.
by: naomi

We have seen them this week at Overlander W.A.
They fly so fast I could not take any photos.
Feb 14, 2016
 Where to find Budgies
by: Tony B

These little birds rarely move outside the arid centre. They can be found in places like south-western Queensland, (eg.Birdsville) (no pun intended), and they move around as waterholes empty. They rarely move far away from water, and the old explorers and aborigines used them as a guide when looking for water. So, if you want to see them, I'd suggest you ring the local tourist contacts in the bush and ask to speak to someone about their presence in the local area. They nest in hollows in the mulga or coolabah trees, and the ideal area to look for them is near, (say), the Cooper Creek, which runs for miles and miles, eventually emptying into Lake Eyre.
Feb 13, 2016
 Holidays
by: John D

Hi, I am going to Aus in Dec 16 and want to see these lovely birds, I will be based in Melbourne so will have to travel. Douse anyone know the most southerly point I could see these birds?

Thanks
Aug 05, 2015
 Me too
by: Sandy

I'm interested in seeing budgies in the wild too. I'm setting off tomorrow and will be travelling to Broken Hill, Wilcannia and White Cliffs. I'll be looking out for these little guys along the way.
Aug 05, 2015
 interested in current sightings please.
by: Steve

This is all very interesting but does anyone have anything more current?
Mar 22, 2014
 thank you Rita
by: Anonymous

Sorry I didn´t answer before. My trip to Australia has been posponed but not forgotten.
I live in Uruguay and for us it is an expensive trip. I forgot I asked this question and now found it, just because I still want to see wild budgies!!! Rita thank you very much for your concern, and I will be visiting your country very soon! Thank you all for the answers and I will keep your references of wild budgies.
Cheers, Laura
Jun 26, 2012
 Where to see budgies
by: Rita

Thank you Mike and Tony for your feedback. It is much appreciated.

Rita
Jun 25, 2012
 Budgies are everywhere at the moment
by: Tony B

We saw large flocks of them along the Barkly Highway between Mt Isa and Hughenden last month. Having said that, it's hard to recommend an area in particular because they are so widespread. My guess is that it's a good idea to go looking for them in the main nesting season, say between August and November. Try and find places that have a large number of large eucalypts with water nearby. The best trees will have numerous hollows suitable for nest-building. Don't bother with the wet tropics, or the temperate/cool zones. Budgies prefer the drier country with lots of grasses and spinifex etc.
Outback NSW or QLD near the Cooper Creek or, say the Darling River would be good places to start. Also, see if you can find a friendly Tourist Information Centre in some of the towns like Bourke. Some of the people in those centres are also keen bird-watchers
Jun 25, 2012
 Where are the Budgerigars.
by: Mike W

Last time(August 2010) I was on the Oodnadatta Track we camped at The Algebuckina Bridge on the Neals River, there was, to my delight Budgies everywhere. Being a breeder and former member of the Avicultural Society I was Impressed.I have also seen them just north of Arkaroola on the Paralana Hot Springs Track.
Jul 04, 2011
 Budgerigars
by: Rita

Thanks Tony, this is as always great advice.

Rita
Jul 04, 2011
 Budgerigars
by: Tony B

A good area to watch for these amazing little fellas is anywhere along the upper reaches of the Cooper Creek in South-West Queensland, and in the Channel Country around Windorah or nearby. There is plenty of feed for them just about anywhere, but the upper Cooper Creek has lots of larger trees along its banks with many hollow limbs where these birds like to breed. So it's my guess that they're more concentrated around the watercourses, busily building their nests, chattering, squawking and performing their aerobatics. Sometimes you'll see what looks like a green cloud zooming around at high speed. There can be hundreds of them in a single flock.

Good luck

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Questions and Answers.

Enjoy these tips and articles in the Outback Guide