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Black-headedparrot, or Black-capped parrot, orPallidcaique (Pionites melanocephala)
Phylum —chordata
Class — aves
Order — psittaciformes
Family — psittacidae
Genus – pionites
There are two subspecies of the Black-headed parrot. They hybridize freely and individuals showing some level of intermediacy in color are common:
- Pionites melanocephala melanocephala: eastern part of its range. Orange thighs and crissum, nape deep orange, and belly white.
- Pionites melanocephala pallidus: western part of its range. Yellow thighs and crissum, nape relatively pale, and belly tinged yellowish.
Appearance
The Black-headed parrot is a medium-small, short-tailed parrot with a black crown, yellow to orange head, whitish belly, yellow thighs and crissum (the area around the cloaca), green back, wings and upper tail, blue primaries (blackish from below), and greyish-black bill and feet. The white breast feathers of wild caiques are often stained a chestnut brown color. This may be tannin staining, as result of their particular affinity for bathing by rubbing their bodies against wet leaves and other plant matter. Male and female birds have identical plumage.
Mature birds are about 23 cm long from the head to the tip of the tail.
Habitat
The Pallid caiqueis found in South America north of the Amazon, from the Guianas westward to Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru.
Behavior
Caiques enjoy human interaction as well as interaction with other birds. In the wild the Black-headed parrots are very social birds usually seen in family groups or flocks of up to thirty birds. They are highly social birds with a very active nature.
Diet
In the wild, they eat mostly flowers, pulp, and seeds and possibly insects.
Reproduction
Black-headed parrots are being bred successfully in captivity. The female will lay up to four eggs which incubate for about 25 days. The male will feed the female while she is brooding, and will join her in the nest box at various times during the day and at night. The hatchlings will leave the nest at about 14 weeks.
In captivity
These parrots can live up to 40 years.
Caiques must get regular, scheduled playtime. Shower this bird with lots of positive interaction. They are usually able to entertain themselves for short periods, making them a good choice for working bird owners. They are also relatively small, which makes them appealing to those who dwell in apartments and condominiums. Despite their small size, caiques will do best in a small aviary or large cage. At a minimum, provide a cage that is at least 2 feet long and 2 feet wide by 3 feet tall. The spacing between the bars should be no more than 3/4-inch wide.Since they are intelligent, they also make pretty good escape artists. Ensure their cage is sturdy and can keep these crafty birds safe. A wrought-iron cage is best since they often try to chew the bars.
Provide this bird a bathing dish with fresh water every day. They are very fond of splashing around in the water.
Caiques are active little birds and are unique in that they seem to prefer to walk more often than fly. Caiques enjoy floor time and you will enjoy watching them on the floor or any large flat surface. They have a unique hop that is charming and endearing. They appear to be a windup tin toy that hops along in a very amusing way.
A caique should be given a minimum of 1 hour outside the cage each day to hop around and exercise its strong leg muscles and do a bit of supervised exploring in a bird-safe room. To safeguard the room, turn of ceiling fans, close all windows and doors, cover the fireplace, and remove all toxic plants and other pets.
As busybodies, these birds need plenty of stimulating toys. It may take some time to find your bird's favorite toys. They can be somewhat finicky and stubborn about their things. Playtime also helps the bird wear down its beak, which helps keep it in good shape. Rotate branches and toys regularly as they become worn out.
The Caique's main diet should primarily be seeds, fruits, and green vegetables. A commercially prepared parrot mix or pelleted diet can also be beneficial.
