Description

The Black-Headed Caique shares the vibrant, energetic personality of its White-Bellied relative, distinguished by a solid black cap on its head, an orange/yellow neck, and a predominantly green body. They are renowned for their playful, clownish antics, often swinging, hanging upside down, and engaging in “rough play” with their owners or toys. They are incredibly curious and often referred to as “feathered busybodies,” always exploring. They are highly affectionate and thrive on close human contact, but they can be nippy and require firm, consistent boundary training. Their vocalizations are a mix of whistles, sharp squeaks, and high-pitched calls, which can be loud when they are excited or trying to get attention.

Tamability and Maintenance: Black-Headed Caiques are highly tamable and bond strongly, often becoming extremely devoted. They are a high maintenance pet, requiring significant daily interaction and a stimulating environment to channel their high energy. They need a spacious cage built to withstand climbing and chewing, and must have ample out-of-cage time for exercise. Their natural chewing instinct is powerful, necessitating a continuous supply of wooden and rope toys. They thrive best with an owner who can match their high-energy, playful nature. Their expected lifespan is 25-40 years.

Diet: A Caique’s diet should be primarily a high-quality, small to medium-sized parrot pellet. This must be heavily supplemented with fresh, chopped fruits and vegetables daily. They relish a good mix of healthy produce like apples, pears, mangoes, broccoli, and carrots. Due to their high metabolism and active nature, healthy treats like small amounts of nuts (almonds) and seeds can be used for foraging or training, but their intake must be monitored to ensure they don’t fill up on fatty items instead of pellets and fresh foods.