Baby bush budgie

Togs, the baby Bush Budgerigar. Image: Wild Life Sydney

Bush budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) are one of Australia’s smallest parrots.

Unlike the domesticated budgies, bush budgies usually have green plumage — any variations usually result from cross-breeding with their domesticated relatives. They can be found in every part of Australia except the coastal areas, but prefer the arid inland. They are highly nomadic, following the heavy rains that brings out the grasses and seeds, and very social, using their erratic flight patterns as a flock to confuse predators.

This baby bush budgerigar, named Togs, is being hand-raised at Wild Life Sydney, with a keeper waking up every two to three hours to feed him.