Can Cockatiels and Budgies Live Together? Vet-Reviewed Risks & Compatibility Guide
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Cockatiels and budgerigars, or budgies, share many traits. They are both native to Australia, living in the arid savannas and woodlands of the country. They typically occupy the interior instead of the coasts. The birds both are ground foragers and highly social. They also have similar daily activity patterns. All these things seem to point to the fact that you could keep them in the same cage. Can cockatiels and budgies live together?
The short answer is cockatiels and budgies should probably not live together long-term, especially if the cage is too small.
Despite how similar the two species appear, several factors make keeping cockatiels and budgies together somewhat problematic. They include physical, social, and biological reasons. Let’s consider the answer to this question in more detail to help you understand the pros and cons of housing them together.
The Social Structure of Birds
Cockatiels and budgies have comparable social structures. Each species lives in large flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands.1 That system affords them protection against predators. Remember that both are ground foragers, making it difficult to feed and keep an eye out for raptors flying overhead. Staying in groups ensures at least one bird can alert the others about potential threats.
That point suggests cockatiels and budgies would get along. However, it’s more complicated than that fact would suggest.
Both species form pairs. Cockatiels lavish attention on their mates and remain loyal to them. Budgies are similar, with females anecdotally being more aggressive than males. Scrabbles between the two species may occur if one member feels pressured by another. After all, birds can and do show anger. Nevertheless, cockatiels have the upper hand when it comes to size, particularly with their bigger beaks.
However, it is worth noting that in large enough environments (such as outdoor aviaries), these species seem to coexist without much issue. Their native territories also overlap considerably, indicating that they don’t necessarily mind each other’s presence as long as their individual needs are met. There are no documented cases of aggression between the two species in the wild.
Cockatiels and Budgies in the Wild
Cockatiels and budgies have comparable diets. Both eat seeds, nuts, and grains. On the one hand, that fact would seem to make it easier to keep them together. On the other hand, it also makes them competitors for the same food. We can’t forget that size issue, either. Cockatiels have a more varied diet in the wild. They may eat fruits and the occasional insect, and they consume larger seeds, like sunflowers.
Interestingly, farmers often consider cockatiels and budgies as pests because of the economic losses they can cause if a large flock raids a crop. It’s worth noting that the two species will hang out together at waterholes. Finding them together in the wild isn’t unusual. It’s not as if the two birds would necessarily fight.
Keeping Cockatiels and Budgies Together
The cockatiel decides the minimum size cage you need for the two species since it’s the larger of the two. We recommend getting a cage that is at least 36 inches L x 24 inches W x 24 inches H. A cage of this size might comfortably house a cockatiel; however, the limited flying space means that the pet would definitely require time outside its cage on a daily basis. That’s for just one bird. If you want to house a few of each one, you’re looking at a flight cage with a bar spacing of no more than 0.5 inches. The bigger the living quarters, the better to give each bird its space.
The best way to house these species together, if desired, is to place them in an aviary with plenty of space, branches, toys, water bowls, and feeding areas. This would afford both species the necessary space they require to avoid conflict between the two.
When housing just two individuals inside your house, it might actually be best to provide each bird their own cage. The birds might learn to accept each other’s company. Parrots are capable of forming friendships with other species of parrots; however, this often comes down to temperament. Remember that parrots do have personalities, and therefore, a big part of this interaction will come down to the individual quirks of your two pets.
We suggest trying a trial run before making a permanent housing change. Observe how the birds get along when put together. They’re not territorial in the same way a dog might be. However, the bonds with their respective mates might fuel some fights over space issues, often adding fuel to the fire. It is very important to not leave them unsupervised during a trial phase, as this may result in an unfortunate interaction that could leave or both birds with injuries.
Unfortunately, at times, this pairing just doesn’t work and you should be mentally prepared to be faced with a scenario where you might have to rehome one of the birds or keep them permanently separated from each other. It is best to seek professional input from a bird trainer if you find yourself in this predicament.
Closing Thoughts
Cockatiels and budgies require similar care in part due to their common heritage in Australia. However, the birds differ on several scores. They may tolerate each other in the wild, but keeping them together in a cage is a different story because of their activity and size variations. If you want to keep them together, we strongly urge you to get the biggest cage possible (ideally an aviary) or their own separate cages to prevent conflicts between the two species.
Featured Image credit: Dorina Oelsner, Shutterstock
