A Parakeet's Singing Behavior

A small and common parrot often seen in American households as pets, the parakeet is known for his cheerful, active personality. There are over 120 different species and sub-species of parakeet, though the Budgie is one of the most common as a pet. All are very social birds, frequently communicating through a variety of noises and sounds. When a parakeet decides to sing, this behavior is often directly related to his surroundings.

  1. Individual Singing

    • Though all parakeets chirp, screech, and imitate noises, it is generally just the males that engage in sustained singing. When male parakeets sing individually, it is usually a form of play and entertainment. If another male parakeet is nearby, singing may be a way of trying to show off. Parakeets will also sing when trying to impress and court members of the opposite sex. A solitary parakeet might even sing to himself when he's bored.

    Group Singing

    • In the wild, parakeets will also sing together. Often, the birds will start singing to each other as soon as they wake in the morning, a behavior that encourages other birds to wake up as well and to start looking out for predators. Parakeets also will sing together at dusk in order to ensure that the entire flock is present, at nighttime to indicate that it's safe to go to sleep, and during the day when it's time to move to a new location. Often, younger birds will learn and mimic singing sounds from older parakeets.

    Sounds

    • Solo parakeets will create new and unique songs that are often made up of a combination of different parakeet noises. Anything from tweets to trills to screeches can be included in parakeet song, as well as croaks and imitations of other sounds in the parakeet's environment. Singing is decipherable from other parakeet noises because it is sustained and often performed when a bird is comfortable and feels safe.

    Movements

    • Beyond just vocalizations, parakeets also incorporate bodily movements into each song. Head-bobbing and eye-dilation are common when a parakeet is singing, as well as other movements unique to each individual bird. Some owners have even noticed domesticated parakeets ringing bells and incorporating toys as part of a song.