The little Budgerigar, or parakeet, may be the most popular pet bird of all time. Small, inexpensive and easy to keep, budgies make excellent parrots for children. They're cheerful, curious little birds full of energy and enthusiasm for their toys. From the ordinary wild green budgie (Melopisittacus undulatus), breeders have produced dozens of color mutations in additional shades of green, blue, grey, lutino and albino; there's even a rare crested budgie. Budgies don't vary much in size except for the English show budgie, a bird three times larger than normal with a broader, more prominent forehead. 

Country of origin: Australia. 

Size: Small, bullet-shaped bird, 7 inches long and 30-40 grams (less than two ounces). 

Personality: Gentle, gregarious, playful. Chatters and scolds but voice is not loud compared with larger parrots. 

Talking ability: Can develop large vocabulary but high raspy voice may not enunciate well.

Average lifespan: 10-15 years.