Meet Disco The Talking Budgie

January 22, 2015

by Natalie Secretan

If you’ve never owned a budgie, then you’re in for a big surprise. These colourful birds make the best pets. Full of wonder and curiosity, budgies will delight you from dawn till dusk. And if you’re lucky enough, they may even talk back.

Also known as the common pet parakeet or shell parakeet, budgies are from the parrot family and as much as parrots love to mimic, so do budgies.

We caught up with one remarkable budgie by the name of Disco who, under the loving tutelage of his owner, has learned over 130 phrases. Here’s what he had to say:

“I’m happy to toot our horn! (We’ve only got one horn – lots of bells, though).

“We’re pretty wonderful and also full of wonder. I think we’re very underestimated and considered starter birds, which leads to bad breeding practices. We’re little but we’ve got big brains, with a lot going on, whether we mimic or not. (And we don’t all mimic)”

What do you look for in a talker?

“Well, not sure what to tell you – a lively, curious bird, one with healthy eyes and feathers. Adopt when possible, otherwise use a respected avian-only (preferably) shop.”

Disco has become quite the star in his own right and kicks off the first episode of BBC’s Wild At Heart. Here’s a preview:

I’ve owned many budgies before and I just love them. I would adopt another one if I didn’t already own a bird-hunting dog! Just remember that hand-raised is the best. "Look for a lively, curious bird, one with healthy eyes and feathers." All budgies have their own individual personalities, so spend some time with one before taking it home. Ha! That’s good advice in anything, I suppose.

I’ll let Disco have the last word:

“Keep on tweetin’ in the free world! Oh, I’ll start singing now. Anyway, thank YOU. Big wing waves from across the way in #ROC.”

[Big thanks to Disco and his owner in Rochester, New York, where I caught up with them on Twitter. You can view the whole conversation @NatSecret]