After living with each other for a year, Opal and Berry are becoming friends!

[reeb]

So, Berry (my cockatiel) was introduced to Opal and Pearl (my budgies), in October 2017. Opal and Pearl, although occasionally interacting, really show very little interest in each other (despite being male and female respectively). In recent months, Opal has begun to show a lot of interest in Berry, however she has straight up rejected him on many occasions. He chased her around the room, tried everything to impress her, and she just wasn't having it!

Then, about a week ago, I saw them feeding each other, and I was shocked! They then did it again yesterday! The budgies do occasionally do this too, but I am so pleased to see my birds getting along after so long. They have tolerated each other, have shared a cage for a very long time, but they really weren't friends at all! Below is a little pic of the interaction!

Any thoughts lol? Does anyone have two different species who do these cute things?

 

[jousze]

So, Berry (my cockatiel) was introduced to Opal and Pearl (my budgies), in October 2017. Opal and Pearl, although occasionally interacting, really show very little interest in each other (despite being male and female respectively). In recent months, Opal has begun to show a lot of interest in Berry, however she has straight up rejected him on many occasions. He chased her around the room, tried everything to impress her, and she just wasn't having it!

Then, about a week ago, I saw them feeding each other, and I was shocked! They then did it again yesterday! The budgies do occasionally do this too, but I am so pleased to see my birds getting along after so long. They have tolerated each other, have shared a cage for a very long time, but they really weren't friends at all! Below is a little pic of the interaction!

Any thoughts lol? Does anyone have two different species who do these cute things?

You’re going to create a new species!!
Would be really cool actually.

Looks like they are now friends

 

[GaleriaGila]

And the animals shall lead us. Diversity, fellowship, love.

Estoy brumosa. I'm misty.

 

[Laurasea]

It kinda freaked me out when I saw the size of the budgie lol I am used to American size budgie which is tiny!!! These English budgies are giants!! I only became aware if these English budgies this year, soon see your pic an my eyes bug out lol so cute

 

[itzjbean]

Awesome pic and great news!

Since both are native to Australia and do sometimes live in flocks together it pleases me to hear that your two species are now becoming freinbds like this. Just like in the wild!

I am getting a soft spot for budgies, I think I need a couple.

 

[LordTriggs]

It kinda freaked me out when I saw the size of the budgie lol I am used to American size budgie which is tiny!!! These English budgies are giants!! I only became aware if these English budgies this year, soon see your pic an my eyes bug out lol so cute

we decided to adopt Texas' motto when we began breeding budgies!

Even then for an english buddy that guy does seem extra huge!

 

[reeb]

Lol I think the perspective in the photo makes Opal look like he’s almost the size of Berry, but Berry weighs double his weight haha. She could quite easily squish him if she wanted to!! Also when the budgies poof up their feathers they look a lot bigger than they actually are!

He’s still not a small guy at 48g, Pearl is actually larger at 56g. Berry is 102g. One of the reasons I went with English budgies was because I was planning on getting Berry, and I didn’t want the size difference to be too big!

 

[reeb]

Here’s a pic where you can get a good look at their size differences (lol they love sitting on those window bars I have no idea why when they have a perfectly good playgym, looks hella uncomfortable)
From left to right: Opal, Pearl, Berry

 

[Scott]

Yay for Opal and Pearl!! You know that is bound for a future POTM contest, right?!

 

[reeb]

Well update, Berry absolutely loves getting kisses from Opal, so much that she will sometime follow HIM around, instead of the opposite. It’s very cute. Luckily she hasn’t displayed any other cross-species hormonal behaviour to him despite this [emoji23]