Budgerigar

SCI Name:  Melopsittacus undulatus
Protonym:  Psittacus undulatus Nat.Misc. 16 pl.673
Taxonomy:  Psittaciformes / Psittaculidae / Melopsittacus
Taxonomy Code:  budger
Type Locality:  New HoUand = New South Wales.
Author:  Shaw
Publish Year:  1805
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

MELOPSITTACUS
(Psittacidae; Ϯ Budgerigar M. undulatus) Gr. μελος melos  song, tune; ψιττακος psittakos  parrot; "MELOPSITTACUS UNDULATUS.  Warbling Grass-Parrakeet.   ...   Canary Parrot, Colonists.  Betcherrygah, Natives of Liverpool Plains.   AMONG the numerous members of the family of Parrots inhabiting Australia, this lovely little bird is pre-eminent both for beauty of plumage and elegance of form, which, together with its extreme cheerfulness of disposition and sprightliness of manner, render it an especial favourite with all who have had an opportunity of seeing it alive. This animated disposition is as conspicuous in confinement as in its native wilds; a pair now before me are in exuberant health after having braved the severities of a passage to this country by way of Cape Horn in the midst of winter.   ....    As cage-birds they are as interesting as can possibly be imagined; for, independently of their highly ornamental appearance, they differ from all the other members of their family that I am acquainted with, in having a most animated and pleasing song; besides which, they are constantly billing, cooing, and feeding each other, and assuming every possible variety of graceful position. Their inward warbling song, which cannot be described, is unceasingly poured forth from morn to night, and is even continued throughout the night if they are placed in a room with lights, and where an animated conversation is carried on.  In a state of nature they feed exclusively upon grass-seeds, with which their crops are always found crammed; in confinement they thrive equally well upon canary-seed." (Gould 1840); "Melopsittacus Gould, Bds. Austr., pt. 1, 1840, pl. [10] [= 5, pl. 44 of bound volume]. Type, by monotypy, Psittacus undulatus Shaw." (Peters 1937, III, 272).
Var. Melopsitta.

undulata / undulatus
L. undulatus furnished with wave-like markings < unda wave.
● ex “Ynambú listado” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 331 (Crypturellus).
● ex “Bécasse des savanes de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 895 (Gallinago).
● ex “Ondulé” of Levaillant 1805, pl. 156 (syn. Muscicapa adusta).
● ex “Calao à Casque Festonné” of Levaillant 1801 (Rhyticeros).
● ex “Petit Butor de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 763, and de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Zigzag Bittern” of Latham 1785 (Zebrilus).
● ex “Gobe-mouche de l’île de France” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Undulated Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (unident.).
● ex “Perruche Ara à bandeau rouge” of Levaillant 1801-1805 (unident.).