That’s according to South West Victoria Budgerigar Society secretary Leigh McNaughton, who has often been frustrated getting his English variety budgerigars to get together.

“Australian budgerigars just breed in an aviary,” he said. “But with English birds, you have to put one pair in a breeding cage.”

Mr McNaughton has more than 150 budgies and specialises in breeding the Spangle and Fallow English varieties, which were bred from native Australian budgies to produce a larger bird and more variety. Australian varieties had more of a focus on colour, he said.

Mr McNaughton is among the local budgerigar breeders who earlier this year reformed the South West Victoria Budgerigar Society after it went into recess in 2008.

The society will hold a show tomorrow at the Dennington hall for “unbroken cap” budgerigars — those under eight weeks old which still have a series of stripes across the back of their head.

Budgie breeders from throughout Victoria and more than 100 birds are expected.

Mr McNaughton said all but one of the south-west society’s members competed in the beginners’ class.

With little experience in showing budgerigars, the society was chuffed to be placed 10th out of 15 clubs at a recent unbroken cap competition in Melbourne where it competed against many reserve and champion class breeders.

Tomorrow’s show opens to the public from 10.30am and admission is free.

The south-west society meets at the Dennington hall at 7pm on the second Wednesday of the month.