Want to know what the main differences are with a Bourke parakeet vs budgie?
The most obvious difference tends to be the color of their feathers, Bourke parakeets are often more pinkish and have that tinge in their overall color, which the average budgie doesn’t. Budgies will often have a more yellowish-green tinge to their look.
Beyond this, what more is there to look at when it comes to a Bourke parakeet vs budgie?
There are a few differences that are going to stand out.
These include:
- Cleanliness
- Noisiness
- Activity Level
- Amount of Napping
It’s these differences that stand out when comparing Bourke parakeets and budgies as pets.
Even though they are similar in size and often have most of the same personality traits, there are subtle differences that are going to make your experience with them unique.
It’s best to know about this before venturing into the world of comparing a Bourke parakeet vs budgie.
This guide is going to look at the comparison of a Bourke parakeet vs budgie by assessing their behavior patterns as pets.
Table of Contents
Best Book on Budgies & Parakeets (EDITOR’S CHOICE)
- Shea, Lisa (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 290 Pages - 12/31/2014 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
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Key Differences: Bourke Parakeet vs Budgies
Difference #1: Cleanliness
This is a common concern with budgies.
They will make quite a bit of mess in comparison to Bourke parakeets. This means they will toss food around, leave droppings everywhere, and just not be as clean with things in their cage.
On the other hand, Bourke parakeets are more particular about their living environment. This means they take the time to clean themselves and anything around them when given the opportunity.
It is a unique difference but one that does stand out for a lot of people as pet owners.
You are not going to be as prone to cleaning a Bourke parakeet’s cage as you would a budgie’s. It is going to be a difference that you will start to notice over the long-term, especially when they are kept in separate cages.
You will often see the Bourke parakeet use the water for cleaning as well. It is a common aspect of their behavior towards staying fresh in comparison to budgies.

Difference #2: Noisiness
When looking at a Bourke parakeet vs budgie, it’s common to focus on the noise!
Yes, the noise is noticeable especially when both are near each other.
In essence, you are going to realize the Bourke parakeet is far more quiet in comparison to the budgie. It doesn’t make a lot of noise and when it does the sound will be a delicate one.
A lot of people describe the Bourke parakeet’s sound as being more of a gentle song that drifts through the air. On the other hand, budgies have more of a screech to their sound that does startle you at times.
Budgies can let out a sweet song or two as well, but they can start to screech at times.
When comparing sounds, you are just not going to hear a lot out of the Bourke parakeet.
They are naturally more quiet and that is something you are going to see across the board with them. They are calmer, easier to handle, and tend to have a calm personality.
Budgies are calm as well, but they do tend to screech loudly when displeased.
Difference #3: Activity Level
When it comes to a Bourke parakeet vs budgie, owners will often notice a discrepancy in activity levels.
Bourke parakeets are mellow personalities and will only show signs of activity (i.e. movement) during the early hours of the morning. This doesn’t mean they stop moving later in the day, but a lot of that time is spent resting instead.
On the other hand, you are going to have a more “goofy” bird on your hands with a budgie.
They like to move around, sing, and are going to be more active at all hours of the day. As soon as they wake up, they are going to start moving around.

Difference #4: Amount of Napping
Napping is a common difference with a Bourke parakeet vs budgie.
Bourke parakeets love to nap and that is a part of their chilled-out vibe. They like resting, taking it easy, and just having a good time by keeping their energy levels up.
On the other hand, budgies will take a nap sometimes but do enjoy staying up more.
This is a subtle difference that is noticeable to a lot of people.
You are going to realize the Bourke parakeet wants to rest more even if that means interacting less with the owner. It is just their default mode when chilling out.
Difference #5: Diet
When it comes to their dietary intake, there is a difference with a Bourke parakeet vs budgie.
You are going to realize a Bourke parakeet prefers eating vegetables but stay away from fruits. It is not something that is enjoyable to them when given the choice.
On the other hand, a budgie is going to welcome fruits in their diet.
Final Thoughts
This is what to look for when comparing a Bourke parakeet vs budgie.
It’s all about the subtle differences between these two types of birds. They are both beautiful, enjoyable, and great pets as long as you are willing to work with them.
You can’t go wrong with either.
Here is more on parakeets and budgies – helping a hunched over budgie, helping a budgie that is whimpering, how to stop parakeets from fighting, and safest cage for a parakeet.