Dumb Question

[stony]

what is the difference between a parakeet and a budgie ? Are there different breeds of parakeets like in dogs?Is type based on color alone ?

 

[getwozzy]

There are many different *species* (not breeds) of parakeets ~there are budgerigars (budgies), monk parakeets (Quakers), alexandrine parakeet, derbyan parakeet...and more.... They are all different species even though they have the term "parakeet" attached to them (it doesn't make them necessarily related).

 

[Ann333]

Doesn't the term parakeet just refer to any bird with a long slender body and long tail? I heard somewhere that even gccs are a type of parakeet because it really only refers to a body type. I may be wrong but I think I heard that somewhere...

 

[getwozzy]

Doesn't the term parakeet just refer to any bird with a long slender body and long tail? I heard somewhere that even gccs are a type of parakeet because it really only refers to a body type. I may be wrong but I think I heard that somewhere...

Yes, it's a catch-all term for any small to medium parrot with long tail feathers

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parakeet

 

[EAI]

To keep it brief, "parakeet" is pretty much a general term for a group of parrots with long tails, so budgies are in that group.
In parrots, there's no such thing as a breed, they are referred to as species. And theres A LOT of parakeet species (I have a link of some below) When you breed them, you get color mutations.

I really like this site in terms of a little database of parrots you can keep as a pet.
Parakeets Are Great Pets

 

[SilverSage]

Agreed with all above but to clear up the confusion, if someone tells you "I have a parakeet" and they don't specify which kind, they are usually talking about a budgie. Now, budgies come in three different varieties (all the same species), a,erican, english, and Australian. They are native to Australia, when someone says an Australian budgie, they are typically referring to the wild type. An English budgie is the kind that has been developed in Europe, tends to be much larger with a puffy forehead, calmer demeanor, and shorter lifespan. The American budgie is what you typically see for sale and labeled as a parakeet in a pet store.

 

[stony]

Thank You for clearing that up