The base of the upper beak is known as the cere. A budgie with stripes stretching down to its cere has not experienced its first molt, when it loses the striped feathers on its head.
If the budgie has no stripes on its head, it has experienced its first molt and is more than 3-4 months of age.
If you have a lutino, albino, or recessive pied budgie, you will need to use other methods to identify the bird’s age.
The excess pigment in the beaks of baby budgies is absorbed as they age, resulting in the development of a normal beak color of pink, light brown, blue, or violet.
If your budgie has dark gray irises, it is likely between 4 and 8 months old. Try to examine your budgie’s eyes in natural sunlight if possible. For example, try opening the curtains or blinds near the budgie’s cage.
The first set of letters will usually identify the company that issued the bird band. The second set of letters and numbers identifies the breeder. The third set of numbers will identify the year the bird was born, usually in two digits. The fourth set of numbers will tell you the pedigree number of the bird.
Visit the website of the American Budgerigar Society at https://abs1. org/orderbands/ to match your bird’s identification band color to its birth year. Keep in mind that certain colors can denote multiple budgie birth years. For example, a budgie with a black identification band was born in 2013 or 2019. A bird with a red identification band was born in 2018 or 2012. Budgies with orange bands were born in 2016 or 2010.
Be aware that some people may say a bird is younger than it is, as younger budgies are typically more valuable than their older counterparts.
