The Caique Species
The Caique Spcies is a medium-size bird, it needs a large environment. This energetic bird will suffer greatly from being confine to a small cage. Think about building a small aviary if you can, or at least provide your caique with the largest housing you can afford. Make sure that the bar-spacing is appropriate for a bird of its size and that there’s a grating on the bottom of the cage. This playful bird will discover the weaknesses in its cage in no time, so be sure that the cage is of quality construction, such as those made from stainless steel.
As with most parrots, caiques thrive on a pelleted-base diet that is supplement with fresh fruit and vegetables. Nutri-Berries are an especially good food for caiques because they offer fun foraging and balanced nutrition.
Caique Species, Range & Habitat
The Caique Species, hailing from South America, are consider a “New World” parrot. This group of stocky, square tailed parrots have a white breast that distinguishes them from all other parrots. Caiques are monomorphic, males and females do not exhibit any outward differences in appearance.
There are two species in the genus Pionites: leucogaster, commonly called the White-bellied Caique, and melanocephala, commonly called the Black-headed Caique. Within these two species, there are five sub-species, two Black-headed and three White-bellied. Black-headed Caiques are approximately nine inches tall and average from 150 to 170 grams at maturity. White-bellied are just slightly taller and average 10-15 grams heavier at maturity.
White-bellied
White-belli Caiques is in generally south of the Amazon River in Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. They inhabit the forest canopy and show a preference for coastal forests. The generally see in pairs, family groups, or small flocks outside breeding season and can often be hear screeching long before they is see. They spend their days foraging in the treetops, feeding on fruits, berries and seeds.
The White-belly Caique consists of three distinct sub-species. The nominate, or main form is Pionites leucogaster leucogaster, commonly referred to as “Green-thighed” White-belly. Although it is the nomi.
Black-headed
Black-head Caiques is in north of the Amazon River in Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela, French Guiana, Guyana and Surinam. They inhabit the both the high forest, forest edges as well as flat savannah woodlands. These noisy parrots are frequently see in family groups or flocks of up to thirty outside breeding season, and inhabit the forest canopy where they spend their days feeding on fruits, berries and seeds. When disturb, they fly off, screeching loudly.
Of the Black-head Caiques, Pionites melanocephala melanocephala is the sub-species we are all familiar with. The Black-headed Caique has a fluffy white breast and abdomen, with a black forehead, crown and nape. Cheeks and throat are yellow with a green streak just to the front and below the eye. Neck is orange, wings, back and tail are green, thighs orange and feet grey to black. Beak black, iris is red in adult birds.