A field study was carried out in seven member countries (Australia, Belgium, Germany, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the U.S.A.) involving many fanciers, to establish a WBO Budgerigar Colour Guide for the basic budgerigar primary colours using the Pantone Colour Chart.
Many budgerigar samples were used in those countries and it was eventually agreed that the WBO Budgerigar Colour Guide (using Pantone charts) should be as follows:
| Budgerigar Colour | Pantone Code | Budgerigar Colour | Pantone Code |
| Light Green | 375 | Skyblue | 310 |
| Dark Green | 369 | Cobalt | 2915 |
| Olive Green | 371 | Mauve | 535 |
| Grey Green | 398 | Grey | 428 |
| Lutino | 102 | Violet | 2727 |
Note: Grey and Greygreen refer to the light shade