What Causes Trembling in Budgies?

Native to Australia, budgies are technically parakeets. Parakeets are small parrots with long tails. American and English budgies belong to a single genus. These budgies have 28 independent color mutations and life spans of 7 to 15 years. Budgies are smart, social and friendly, and they are lovely pets for first-time bird owners. If your budgie is trembling, this could indicates a change in mood or an anxiety, or it could be normal grooming behavior or a little bit of showing off.

  1. Anxiety and Stress

    • If your budgie is trembling, a common cause for this behavior is anxiety and stress due to distrust. Budgies are highly social with other birds and humans, but trembling may occur if your budgie is new to a cage or new to you, or does not trust his cage mates. Eventually, through trust building, trembling will cease as your budgie learns to trust you and the other birds in the cage.

    Grooming

    • Trembling accompanied by a strong shake may be a grooming ritual for your budgie. Feather-shaking helps remove dirt, dry skin or water from the feathers. Trembling may also help adjust the feathers and set them into place. This normally occurs after preening or another activity that ruffles the feathers. A little poof of the feathers and tail wagging may also occur, which is normal.

    Mood Changes

    • If your budgie is trembling, it may be a sign that he is getting ready for an activity change, such as flying, eating or bathing. The trembling behavior indicates a change in the budgie's mood, which he demonstrates with a quick shake of the feathers. This behavior is normal and is not a sign of stress or anxiety.

    Showing Off

    • A poof of the feathers, if it occurs without a shake, indicates that your budgie is extremely happy and about to do something enjoyable, like take a nap or play with a toy. Feather poofs may also indicate a little bit of showing off, which is common between budgies in a shared cage. Male budgies may poof up and shake in order to get a mate, while either sex may show off to get a little extra attention from its owner, such as a little trip outside the cage or more food and treats.