budgie

Everyday

1. A small, bright green, blue or yellow parrot that people often keep as a pet in a cage; its full name is budgerigar. tree →
2. In Australia, a wild budgerigar that lives in big flocks in the dry inland. tree →

In the lessons

A common family pet in the UK, Australia and New Zealand; in the USA it is often called a parakeet. In lessons about pets and animals it shows how to care for a bird: clean water, seeds, a clean cage, toys and company. Wild budgies come from Australia. Phrases: «a pet budgie», «budgie cage».

Examples

• We have a blue budgie called Pip. tree →
• Our budgie chirps when we come into the room. tree →
• Budgies like to look at themselves in a little mirror. tree →
• Change the budgie's water every day. tree →
• Wild budgies fly in huge green flocks in Australia. tree →
• Grandma taught her budgie to say «hello». tree →
• Keep the window shut when the budgie is out of its cage. tree →

Note

Short for «budgerigar». In American English the same bird is usually called a «parakeet». Plural: budgies. Budgies are happier in pairs because they are social birds.