If you're looking for a feathered companion to add to your family, there's a good chance you'll end up narrowing it down to either a budgie or a cockatiel. No wonder: these are the two most popular pet parrot species out there. But between budgie vs cockatiel, which one is right for you? What are the differences between them?

Parrot Essentials talks about budgie vs. cockatiel and how to choose between the two!

Budgie vs Cockatiel: Similarities

There are plenty of similarities between budgies and cockatiels. For starters, they actually occur in the same country: both species hail from Australia, where they inhabit rather harsh and arid habitats. In the wild, they're actually spotted foraging and drinking together on occasion.

Some other similarities include:

• Noise levels. Although they do make plenty of noise, both are in the quieter range when it comes to pet parrots. In most cases, they should be suitable for flat living.
• Colour varieties. Both budgies and cockatiels have been selectively bred to produce a wide range of colour varieties.
• Intelligence. The two species are both intelligent, can be hand-tamed, and are capable of learning surprisingly intricate tricks.
• Social needs. Like most parrots, these are extremely social beings that require plenty of attention to thrive. They can develop a deep bond with their owner.
• Talking abilities. Both (especially the males) can learn to imitate words and whistles, although talking budgies tend to have a larger vocabulary than talking cockatiels.

Both cockatiels and budgies are commonly misunderstood. Due to their wide availability, they're seen as throwaway pets or easy animals that just need a small cage and some dried seeds to thrive. 

"Lamentably, literature often unjustly considers cockatiels (N. hollandicus) and budgies to be "beginner birds"---birds for people to get first, to learn enough about living with psittacines. It is intimated that the people will then graduate up to get "a real parrot." This attitude-does a tremendous disservice (...)"

- Wilson, 1996: The appropriate bird for the appropriate owner

Budgie vs Cockatiel: Differences

Although there are quite a few similarities between cockatiels and budgies, there are also plenty of differences. It's important to consider these before choosing one or the other! Both species fun, full of personality, and add their own special touch to the house. That being said, they do so in pretty different ways.

• Size. When it comes to budgie vs cockatiel, the latter are the larger of the two. Wild type budgies (also referred to as American budgies) are less than half the size of a cockatiel. Large English budgies may come close to them in size, but rarely surpass their crested cousins.
• Cage size. In accordance with the above, a cockatiel cage will generally need to be larger than a budgie enclosure. That being said, both species need plenty of space to stretch their wings and also plenty of opportunity to fly free.
• Noise levels. Cockatiels are louder than budgies, but budgies tend to spend more time making noise. The stream of budgie chatter is pretty constant, especially if you keep multiple, while cockatiels generally vocalize at certain times of the day.
• Activity level. Budgies tend to be absolute firecrackers. When given the chance, they fly around a lot, taking off unexpectedly and zooming around the house whenever they're startled or excited. Cockatiels are a bit calmer.
• Cuddliness. Although some budgies love head scratches, they don't tend to be as cuddly as cockatiels. A budgie will often just like to sit on you and nothing else, while many cockatiels adore a good long neck scratching session. 
• Biting. Cockatiels tend to be a bit more on the sassy end of the spectrum, if we can call it that. They love their neck scratches but they can certainly be cranky as well, sometimes screeching and giving you a warning bite for seemingly no reason.
• Allergies. Cockatiels are members of the cockatoo family, which means they have a powdery layer of down feathers. For those with allergies, this can often be too much. Budgies don't have powder down and are therefore much less dusty. 
• Lifespan. Both birds can live for a long time, so you need to be prepared. Budgie's lifespan tends to be around 15 years, while cockatiel's lifespan can be up to 25. 

Did you know? If you're looking for something in between, an English budgie might be a good choice. They're larger and tend to be calmer than wild-type budgies. Do keep in mind they're more expensive to buy and somewhat more prone to health issues. 

Who is a Budgie Better For?

In the end, it probably boils down mostly to the activity levels. A budgie is great for someone who wants to add life and chatter to their home and doesn't mind not being able to snuggle with their bird as much. These little parrots are perfect for high-energy individuals who like an active bird that they can teach lots of tricks. Of course, cockatiels can learn tricks too, but they just live in slow-motion compared to the budgerigar!

Some sources recommend budgies for kids and cockatiels for the elderly specifically, but we don't necessarily agree. In fact, we think a pair of budgies could be a great pet for an elderly person! They always keep one on their toes with their antics.

Who is a Cockatiel Better For?

If you're in search of a more chilled-out bird, the kind that will sit fluffed up and content on your knee for the entirety of a movie, chances are you'll prefer a cockatiel. Sure, these parrots have their moments of hyperactivity, noise and flying around, but they're not as high-energy as a budgie.

Because cockatiels tend to have a somewhat shorter fuse than budgies, they might not make the ideal pet for children.

Budgie vs Cockatiel: Conclusion

Here at Parrot Essentials headquarters, we keep both cockatiels and budgies. People sometimes ask us if we like our cockatiels more, since we spend more time with them, but that's not what the distinction between these two species is about for us.

Although it's nice to have a cuddlier bird that likes to spend hours sitting on our shoulders and preening our hair, we adore the budgie flock just the same. Their activity level, their antics, and their mischievous shenanigans mean we're never bored, plus we appreciate the constant stream of soft, cheerful chatter. Budgie cheer is infectious!

Whether you end up going for a budgie or a cockatiel, if you do your research and are willing to meet your feathered companion's needs, we think you'll end up being content with your choice. Both species can make great pets.

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