What Age is Your Parakeet?

Cap feathers

In most varieties, young parakeets will have bars on their head all the way down to the cere. At about 3-4 months of age, a budgie will go through its first molt, and the top feathers on the head will be replaced and will no longer be striped. So a parakeet with stripes down to the cere has not gone through its first molt and is less than 3-4 months old. A parakeet with a white or yellow cap (depending on color variety) has gone through its first molt and is therefore older than 3-4 months.

Exceptions:
This age test cannot be applied to Lutino/Albino or Recessive Pied mutations, as these varieties do not have normal feather markings.

Eyes

In most varieties, young parakeets’ eyes will be all black. As they get older, the iris gradually lightens to very light grey/brown. A parakeet with a completely black eye is probably under 4 months old. A parakeet with a dark grey iris is probably 4-8 months old. A parakeet with a light grey or brown iris is probably older than 8 months.

Exceptions:
Lutino/Albino, Lacewing, Fallow – At all ages these red-eyed varieties always have a light colored (pink) iris.
Recessive Pied, Dark-Eyed Clear – These varieties always have dark plum eyes which do not change with age.

To find out more, watch this presentation: