Noise Level & Talking Ability

Caiques are very smart birds and readily pick up words and sounds. They can produce loud noises and are best suited to detached housing. They will make noise throughout the day but are mostly quiet once they have gone to sleep. Their mimicry skills are advanced and never cease to amaze.

Physical Features 

Black Headed Caiques are stocky parrots. The chest is white and the legs are orange/yellow. The wings, tail, and back are green and the top of the head is black. The Neck area is orange/yellow. Flight feathers are a dark blue and the feet and beak are black. The iris is red and the feathers under the eye are often green. The tail is short and wedge shaped. 

Pet Profile

Caique parrots are known as the clowns of the bird world due to their bright plumage and funny personalities. People are drawn to their comedic behavior and intelligence. Caiques can learn to speak fairly well and love learning tricks! However, these birds can also be quite mischievous and should be supervised at all times when outside the cage. Caiques love to interact and may act out if they are not getting enough attention. Caiques tend to bond strongly and may show preference to one or two people if not socialized to enough people. These parrots sometimes express a dislike toward other birds, supervision required. Caiques are playful, energetic parrots who can have assertive moments which an understanding and disciplined owner. Caiques are said to have a 10-minute attention span. What this means is that after 10 minutes, they often tire of their current activity and want to move on. Caiques sometimes act impulsively and owners are advised to really learn their bird's body language so that they know when their bird is tiring of things. Read more...

Diet

Caiques are very active birds and should have access to pellets and water at all times. Fruits and vegetables can be given every day. Nutri-berries and other treats are a way to reinforce good behavior or encourage trick training. Almonds, cashews, and walnuts are all popular treats as well.

Housing

Caiques benefit from a larger cage. It is also a good idea to get a cage with a grill in the bottom as many Caiques like to walk on the bottom of the cage. These birds can be quite messy so a removable grill will make your life a lot easier! Caiques may display aggressive behavior when placed above eye level, so some owners choose a cage with a round top and use a play stand for out-of-cage time. Caiques are very active birds and require stimulation at all times to keep them happy. Their cage should have toys of various materials and textures to keep your bird interested and amused when you are away. Caiques are very versatile in their toy preferences so feel free to shop outside the bird section to find your Caique new toys - as long as they are bird safe!

Breeding Information

Breeding Caiques is not easy. The pair must be bonded before nesting will begin. Be careful when putting two Caiques together as they may not bond and can get quite aggressive towards each other. Introduce the nest box in a dark, secluded section of the cage with some nesting material inside it. The clutch is normally 2-4 eggs and the female will incubate for about 27 days. The male will feed the female while she is brooding and will join her in the nest multiple times during the day. Eggfood and fresh fruits and veggies should be given daily along with a pellet diet.

Wild Status

Stable - Least Concern
Last assessed October 2016 for the IUCN Red List.