What is the difference between a parakeet and a budgie?

You see them in every pet store, the tiny bright colored birds just chirping away. They are always labeled as Parakeets, but are they really called that? I see the same birds online listed as Budgies, so what’s the difference? For some reason, I don’t think they are truly “parakeets”…

Would like some *expert advise* please, from breeders or really, really knowledgeable people.

The reason I am asking is because I bought one yesterday from the petstore. While I consider myself to be a cat expert, I know nothing about birds other than the basics. I am doing as much research as I can, but right now I am researching care and health information, so I figured I’d ask here for the actual name thing..

But while I am at it, I’d also like to know if I’m doing this right so far… So I guess this is a couple questions in one, lol.

I got him (or her) yesterday. I’ll say “he” for now… He is the youngest out of all of them because he still has those “baby feathers” seen on tiny babies. He’s right at the fledgling stage with a few “baby feathers still on his back. He was the easiest one to handle and I figured he was young enough to hand tame.

I set up a 10 gallon tank with two ceramic bowls, one on each side of the tank (one food, one water). The bowls are tiny hamster bowls so he can’t drown in the water or make a big mess. This is a temporary arrangement to help me hand tame him. I think it would cause more stress to chase him around a cage to get him out every time wanted to work with him. Plus it’s similar to the set up at the pet store. I am using the aspen bedding 99% dust free, the kind used for snakes but also for birds. Just a thin layer of it. He has a cuddle bone and two toys handing from the metal screen door on top. The first night, after an hour, he started eating and exploring his new home and then started climbing on his toys (I think he was looking for an escape route, lol).

I covered the cage with a towel before bed (left an opening on top for air/circulation) and this morning he was fine. I took him out and spent 30 minutes on my bed with him, just talking away gently and getting him used to my voice and scent. I got some Millet Spray and am using that as treats and encouragement. He’s already eating comfortably on my hand and he puffs up quite a big and seems content.

I put him back up after 30 minutes and 2 hours later, I took him back out and places a towel on my shoulder and he’s sitting there as we speak. He’s eating the spray from my hands/finger and is not spooking badly, just cautious when I do something new.

Oh, and he seems to like it when I rub my nose against his chest feathers, he puffs up, ruffles his tail feathers and starts exploring my nose with his tongue, and he also rubs up against it to on his own accord.

He is also stretching his wings and doing what these guys do when running around the cage at the pet store as happy as can be.

So…along with the name question, am I doing things right? I am only going use the millet spray seeds for treats. He loves them is willingly eats them from my hand. Granted, it’s been less than 24 hours since I brought him home, but he’s adjusting rather well. I also thought to mention, I do NOT chase him around the tank to get him out, I simply talk to him while proping the lid open, lower my hand down and nudge him belly and he steps up without any problem. He does not freak out badly and does not run around trying to get away. he’s just a little cautious and his feathers are close to his body but as soon as he’s completely out of the tank, he puffs right up and ruffles his tail feathers.

SORRY for a long, long explanation… I just wanted to make sure I was doing this right…
I should also add that he will preen and groom himself while perched on my shoulder or finger and he is starting to make noises too.. and is getting really active while handling him – he has been on my shoulder since I wrote the question and added this note.

Tags: between, budgie, difference, Parakeet