Bourke Parakeet ( Expert Opinion!)

Last Updated on May 30, 2023 by Ali Shahid

Bourke’s parakeets are colorful grasskeet that reside in the Neophema family. They are an attractive member of this popular grasskeet family. The Bourke’s Parakeet is an adorable little bird known for its charming chirping noise; it sounds like an audible tinkle which is quite pleasant to hear.

There has always been an association between these parakeets and dawn and dusk that you can hear their sweet voices the most at those times. Bourke’s Parakeets tend to be less active than many other birds, and to some people, this may seem like a slight disadvantage.

Nevertheless, if you are looking for a relatively inactive parrot with an excellent temperament who is also sweet and gentle, then this could be the bird for you. They have beautiful plumage, and they’re quite attractive.

This bird also has a pretty white eye-ring fitted to its head that we find quite adorable. As a species, it is the only member of its genus, making it, from a scientific standpoint, a very unique bird.

With its engaging personality, adding a pet of this kind is a hunt worth undertaking.

Bourke Parakeet

Origin and History

The Bourke’s parakeet is originally from Australia, but it lives all over the world as a nomadic species. This species is found on a wide range of continents, such as Queensland and New South Wales, along with central, southern, and western Australia.

Typically, this species inhabits dry plains, but native woodlands, such as woods of cypress and eucalyptus, can also be found. It is common to find urban wild birds as well.

Bourke was named for Sir Richard Bourke (1831-1837), who had served as governor of the Australian territory of New South Wales between 1831 and 1837.

As early as the late 1970s, it was included in the Neophema genus. However, in the early 1990s, it was assigned to the Neopsephotus genus.

Bourke’s parrots have become popular pets all over the world due to successfully managed captive breeding programs.

Bourke’s parrots are not classified as threatened; there is an increasing wild population.

Physical Appearance

An adult Bourke’s parakeet will have an average length and weight of 7-8 inches, a wingspan of 7-8 inches, as well as a weight averaging 45 grams, which exclusively puts them in the category of small birds.

The average parakeet has a wingspan of about 12 inches, so you can imagine the amount of energy that these smaller birds will have and how much they will need to stretch those wings.

These parakeets are more delicately colored than other species of birds and are commonly known as the pink parakeet. There is a color variation of Bourke’s parakeet that has a beautiful bright pink plumage, known as the rosy Bourke’s parakeet.

Besides the dusty brown & light pink plumage, they also usually have blue tail feathers with a dusty blue tail cape. They can also be white, blue, pied, cinnamon, and even gray.

Temperament

In addition to being a sweet and cheerful bird, Bourke’s Parakeets make a wonderful pet. This is one of the most popular species because it does not make any noise. It is relatively easy for these birds to breed in captivity and they are also monogamous birds.

This shows their ability to coexist peacefully with other species of birds in an aviary. It is not unusual for this species of parakeet to get territorial during mating season, but it is the only time that it will do so.

Despite its rare bites, the Bourke’s Parakeet is an excellent choice for beginners as it rarely bites. Considering its calm disposition, this is a great choice for apartment residents who will find this characteristic of its to be an advantage.

If you house them with other birds, they should have a larger cage, so this is particularly true if you have more than one bird.

It should also be noted that this bird is also often active at dusk and dawn, so choosing the right cage to house it should be considered in advance.

If you’re not planning on pairing your Bourke’s Parakeet with another pet, you’re going to have to pay close attention to your bird. That’s because this bird has a very strong social instinct. The more challenging the conditions are, the more they form smaller flocks.

Vocalizations

This is not the perfect bird that you can teach to talk to, so if you are looking for something like that, it might disappoint you. Bourke’s Parakeets are not talkers in the sense of talking to you. As far as parrots are concerned, it is not a very vocal animal.

The fact that they are not very vocal may be attributed to their open environment. It does not require a lot of volume to be heard.

Perhaps a bit of warbling or whistling will come out, a bit of imitating your voice. Their call sounds very much like a budgie’s.

Housing

Since this species tends to be most active between the hours of dawn and dusk, it is not very flighty. These birds are social, and they enjoy being around humans or other birds.

The young handfed birds would be perfect pets and should be kept in medium-sized cages where they will be able to move freely about, provided they have ample opportunity to do so.

When the bird is raised by its parents, he or she will enjoy the company of other birds of the same species or in a mixed aviary.

It is my opinion that a cage of at least 30 x 18 should be used for a pair of Bourke birds, even though we breed them in an aviary where there are at least three pairs and nest boxes hung everywhere. The best temperature for them is between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you have a cage that does not have enough perches, then you should consider adding some wooden perches to it, since the birds prefer to hop between perches inside the cage to move.

In addition, if they are provided with some toys, ladders, and companionship, these quiet parakeets can amuse themselves on their own. To keep their interest, provide them with bells and preening toys.

Grooming and Bathing

Occasionally, you may need to clip their nails to keep them from growing too long, but with careful placement of rough perches among the rest of the perches in the enclosure you should be able to minimize this problem.

When their cage is placed in a shallow dish, they will readily use it as a bathing area, since they enjoy the cool, clean water. There are a few times each year when Bourkies molt and baths at these times can help prevent itchy skin.

Exercise

Although Burke’s parakeets are not as active as other parakeet species like the other parakeet, they still need to spend at least two to three hours outside each day in a supervised play area.

For birds to be able to fly for a long period, ensure they have an environment that is safe for them to fly in. For example, you need to remove ceiling fans, animals, and open windows and doors in your home.

A wide variety of toys can make a huge difference in how much fun your Bourke’s parakeet has.

Aside from toys made from commercial plastic, everyday household items such as egg cartons are also great chewing toys because they provide fun chewing items in addition to toys made from commercial plastic.

Breeding

It is possible that breeding pairs can become very prolific over time, and with the right conditions, breeding pairs can breed at any time of year. For breeding pairs, it is recommended that a 12 x 10-inch Nestbox is used.

To indicate when the female is ready to breed, it will lean forward on the perch and will make small chirping noises while humming. When the male sees the female humming this way he will usually accept her request for mating.

It is expected that the female usually lays 4-6 eggs, though it appears that the average clutch size is three to four chicks. She will incubate the third egg for 18-20 days from the time she lays it.

A male is rarely seen accompanying a female in the nest box during the day, but he is usually seen making frequent visits during which he also feeds the hen.

In general, females are nervous sitters who don’t want to leave the eggs alone for very long. Normally, the young Bourke leaves the nest at the age of 4 weeks.

The young are capable of becoming independent and can move away from their parents during 7-8 weeks after birth.

Diet

They are called Bourke’s parakeets because they breed forages for food in open fields and grasslands as well as gather seeds, plants, fruits, berries, and insects from the area where they are living in.

Some parakeet seed mixes are designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of Bourke’s parakeets and contain most of the supplements these birds need.

It is also important to remember that your bird seed mix should be complemented with fruit and vegetables that are safe for birds, such as carrots, broccoli, strawberries, apples, and so on.

It is recommended that you fill their bird feed bowls at least two times a day and that you clean both their food and water bowls every day so that they can keep up with their energy expenditures.

Common Health Problems

 It is commonly recognized that as with other parrot species, the Bourke’s parakeet is susceptible to psittacosis, a highly contagious disease that carries the risk of transmission from bird to human.

This bacterial disease causes respiratory problems, and antibiotics are prescribed for the treatment of this disease.

Also, parakeets are susceptible to certain kinds of viruses, which have the potential to affect their feathers, cause diarrhea, and potentially cause pneumonia.

The Aspergillus fungus is also responsible for the sinus congestion that parakeets are prone to; therefore, it is essential that they are fed properly and kept clean to avoid this issue.

Parakeets can be affected by many parasites. Birds with intestinal parasites often lose weight and become depressed in addition to becoming scratchy and losing feathers.

Birds with external parasites such as mites and lice may also lose weight and become depressed.

From Where to Get a Bourke’s Parakeet

It is probably not a difficult task to find Burke’s Parakeet because it is a very popular species. Breeding them is also relatively easy, so that helps as well. If you’re not looking for a specific color variation, you’ll be able to expect to pay less than $100.

Color variations can result in a much higher price. They can be found on the internet. Additionally, some pet stores may also be able to provide you with one on a special order basis.

Although the Bourke’s Parakeet is a docile bird by nature, we would recommend getting a much younger one if possible. When buying a parrot, it makes sense to buy one when they are young.

As a result, bonding will be more effective and will lead to you having a happier pet. Having said that, it is vital to remember that a bird that has been raised by hand will fetch a higher price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bourke parakeet a good pet to have?

Bourke’s parakeets are well-known for being very gentle and good-natured species. These birds would make excellent pets if they were hand-fed by their caretakers when they were babies, thus allowing them to bond with them. This parrot has a kind and trustworthy personality, like most of the parrot species in the world, but it is also intelligent.

What is the average lifespan of Bourke’s parakeet?

In captivity, Bourke’s parrots have an estimated lifespan of five to eight years, which is similar to budgerigars in the wild. When living in the wild, their lifespan is shorter.

Can Bourke live with budgies?

This bird is generally considered to be considerate of other animals and is known as a good companion bird for aviary keepers. Despite this, the Bourke’s activity past the period of dusk can disrupt other aviary birds even to the point where they are knocked off the perch.

Conclusion

There are quite a few reasons why Bourke’s Parakeets are ideal pets for many people. As long as you do not mind keeping sociable birds in an aviary, this is a very easy bird to keep. The bird is not aggressive and is not loud.

The care it requires is also quite straightforward, so it is an excellent choice for new pet owners who are new to owning a parrot. Besides being beautiful animals, parrots are also relatively affordable. Is there anything more you could ask for?