What Birds Can Live With Budgies? Find Out Now

Sharing is caring!

Loneliness is the biggest enemy of budgies. They are the most cheerful, living in large flocks. That’s why, if you have adopted a budgie recently, you better think about getting it a friend as well.

Cockatiels, parrotlets, canaries, and Bourke’s parakeets are some other birds of the same parrot family that will live peacefully with budgies. If you can’t settle on any of them, having another budgie will do as well.

Budgies are rarely aggressive or competitive. But to keep the harmony inside the cage, the new member should also be social, friendly, and most importantly, have the ability to get along with budgies.

So, let’s see which birds can actually fulfill that criteria.

6 Birds That Usually Get Along With Budgies

I have listed six birds that can live happily with budgies in the same cage. This will make a peaceful home for both bird buddies.

1. Other Budgies (Parakeets)

The best cage mate for your budgie will be another budgie. Being the same species, they quickly bond. And, if you have both male and female, you can have your own budgie aviary soon.

The best thing is that budgies are not aggressive at all. In fact, if you keep two male budgies in the same cage, they will quickly become great pals. There will be hardly any jealousy related to cage and food sharing. Plus, your ultimate goal is to keep your budgie feel at home.

And, what could be better than presenting friends that are just like it? I think it’s the most viable thing to do.

2. Cockatiels

Even though Cockatiels are slightly bigger than an adult budgerigar, both birds have a similar temperament. Cockatiels also love living in flocks and are barely aggressive towards their cage mates.

In a budgie-cockatiel combination, the former is intelligent and loves to be the leader. And the latter plays the role of a more lenient cage mate who abides by the rules. However, this friendly temperament depends on how spacious the cage is.

A space-constrictive cage can lead both birds to bully each other. Once you have sorted the space issue, your budgie and cockatiel can live harmoniously and enjoy their companionship without the stress of overcrowding.

3. Pocket Parrots (Parrotlets)

You can always opt for other small parrots if you don’t want another budgie. Pocket parrots, or Parrotlets, are one of the smallest in the parrot family. But they are not meekly/timid like the Canaries or other Finches.

Parrotlets are quite similar to budgies in temperament, socializing ability, and nutrition requirements. So it’s not going to overwhelm you as a caretaker.

But please note that a smaller body (4 to 5 inches) doesn’t stop pocket parrots from starting a fight. They are really bad at sharing toys. So, I highly advise you to have a spacious cage with enough perches and toys for both of them.

If you can cut out the need for sharing, both parrotlets and budgies are the most playful birds you will ever see.

4. Doves

There’s a reason Dove is the symbol of peace. These birds belong to the pigeon family and are extremely gentle. But Doves are usually slightly smaller in size than domestic pigeons.

If you have an extrovert budgie, I definitely think a dove partner will balance it out. But it’s better to introduce the birds while they are still young. Fully mature birds often fight for dominance when they first meet. I recommend Ring-necked and Diamond doves as they are the most peaceful ones.

5. Canaries

Most people know canaries as songbirds. But they actually belong to the Finches family. Their ability to copy tunes has made them the number-one pick in birdkeeping.

However, canaries are not usually very cheerful or sociable birds. They take time to get along with humans and other cage mates. But one thing is for sure, their shy nature will dismiss any anticipated rivalry in the cage. But you have to be careful, though.

Canaries have soft beaks, so they are not good at fighting or defending themselves. I would only recommend getting this melodious bird if your budgie is not an attacker.

6. Bourke’s Parakeets

Bourke’s parakeets are not as hyped as budgies or lovebirds. But they do own a sweet singing voice and grow up to 7 inches. Plus, being a parrot, you can take care of it just like you do for the budgie. Both birds (budgies and Bourke’s parrots) do well when a flock of parrots surrounds them. Needless to say, they will instantly form a friendship.

However, one worrying thing is the sleep pattern. Bourke’s are the most active from 6 to 9 pm. They eventually sleep as the night settles. On the other side, budgies are diurnal. They dislike loud noises or flashes of light during nighttime when they sleep.

You Should Not Keep These Birds With Budgies

Avoid keeping these bird species with budgies in the same cage. Their different behaviors and temperaments might cause conflicts and stress for both birds.

Lovebirds

How many people think lovebirds and budgies get along will surprise you. Lovebirds are bigger and often use that to bully their cage mates.

The female lovebirds are even more offensive and can potentially injure your budgie. If you have to own both lovebirds and budgies, make sure to provide separate cages.

Zebra Finches

The case with zebra finches is totally opposite from that of lovebirds. Zebra Finches often turn the victims if kept with budgies. Most birds from the Finch family are delicate and don’t have strong beaks to fight.

On the other hand, budgies have Hookbills. It’s a type of downward beak that works like Hook. If there’s ever any conflict, budgies won’t hesitate to harm the poor finches with their hooks.

Green-cheeked Conures

A green-cheeked conure can grow up to 10 inches, which is twice the budgie’s size. It doesn’t make any sense to pair your budgie with a bird that’s so large, especially because budgies can be really pushy and irritating.

If it ends up triggering the conure, the large bird can easily beat the budgie to death. Like most parrots, people usually go for conures because they are so calm and social. I suggest you keep them in separate cages and allow playdates under supervision.

Conclusion

Finally, I have discussed the bird species that can live with budgies and those you shouldn’t keep with them. Remember, understanding which birds get along with is vital for a peaceful environment. Moreover, it creates a safe and enjoyable house for your feathered friends.