The Budgerigar. (Melopsittacus Undulatus.)

Scarce c.19th hand coloured engraving of the much loved Budgerigar.

Aboriginal names: Gidjirrigaa in Yuwaalaraay, Gidjirrigaa in Gamilaraay / Gamilaroi / Kamilaroi, Gidjirrigaa in Yuwaalayaay
Modern binomial name: Melopsittacus undulatus
First described: George Shaw, 1805
Distribution: Australia wide.

Early sightings and notes:

1805 Shaw’s first description
The highly elegant species of Parrakeet represented on the present plate in its natural size, is an inhabitant of New Holland. New Holland  George Shaw

1838 First capture
On arriving at Brezi, to the
north of Liverpool Plains. in the beginning of December, I found myself
surrounded by nymbers, breeding in all the hollow spouts of the large
Eucalytpus bordering the Mokai… Liverpool Plains, N.S.W.  John Gould.