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Are there any differences besides looks and weight/size? Are the personalities, intelligence, friendliness, etc., on the same level? I've never seen an English Budgie but hope to visit a breeder soon...just wondering about the traits.

English budgies are not as quick in flight as the American/pet budgies. Male E. make better pets. Most breeders of English breed for exhibition, so the stock they have for sale is at least 6 months of age or older. Even older cock birds can be hand tamed if the wings are clipped. These bird just don't put up as much "fight" as the smaller birds.

Some English can become sedentary and over weight. It is best not to leave treats at perch level, make the birds move around for their food/treats. If you can give flight time to your birds after you have hand trained (and their new fights have grown in) them that is GREAT.

Every bird is an individual. Each has it's own personality.

The exhibition part of this hobby is a LOT of fun! The competition and thrill of producing winning birds. You get to meet wonderful people from all over the U.S.

Be sure to ask for a pedigree on your new bird. Most exhibition breeders keep these records on their birds. They don't generally give them out unless a buyer asks for it. The pedigree with show you what colors are in the background of you bird. Though the band info, the breeder codes will tell you want aviaries the historical birds came from.

If you would like to check out a national budgie society here is the link to the Budgerigar Association of America (the BAA) http://www.budgerigarassociation.com

English budgies are bigger, not as friendly and have larger heads.they tend not to live as long as American budgies (from what I had been told) Beauty is the eye of the beholder. Some say the English budgies are more refined looking and prettier.

bostonbudgie wrote:English budgies are.... not as friendly.....

How any bird is produced will lend to them being friendly or not. Since English budgies are bred for exhibition the chicks are handled often in the nest to get them use to humans and contact. It would never do for a show bird to flip out in the show box as the judge stopped to have a look at it.
Walking into a flight pen of most exhibiton birds, they don't go terring away to the furthest end to get away from you.

Visit the aviary you are going to buy from. Ask lots of questions of the breeder. Ask if you can see their aviary, some breeders allow visitors others do not. That is an individual breeder thing to protect against bringing illesses in.

I've found English budgies to be generally calmer and easier to tame, as well, especially males. Although I've heard that at about 2 yrs. of age the female English budgies tend to get nasty - this isn't the case with my Australian female, who is 3 yrs. old, but that could just have been that I got her just after being weaned and handle her a lot.