well, I visited bird paradise today and now that my apartment situation is going to be setling down, I'm thinking of bringing a baby into my flock in the next month or so. No the question is, since I cant have one of every bird, which do I want to bring home. I think I kind of have my heart set on another amazon, probably a blue front, but the caiques seemed adorable. Can anyone let me know about their temperment, anything I would expect, talking, loudness (screaming?), difference if any between white bellies and the black head. anything I might find helpful? Thanks guys

I'm not responding to this one as I do not want to sway your decision!

haha, thanks kathie, but I would love any input from you as well. I promise I'll take any advise objectivley

I am still fairly new to the caique world but I will tell you of my experience. I got 2 white bellies and 1 blackhead last December. The white bellies (Splash and Squeaky) were then about 4 months old and the blackhead (Cricket) was about 13 months old or so. These parrots act and play like no other parrot I have ever seen. I have had all 3 out together and even caged them together for a while and they tussled and played like a litter of kittens -- no lie!!

Caiques are very playful and active little buggers. They need lots of foot toys and things to hold their interest. They are very affectionate and are known for doing "full body rubs". Splash and Squeaky are the ones who do that the most -- they will literally rub their heads and whole bodies all over my hand.

The strangest habit mine have shown is their sleeping sandwiched together in their food bowl. Can you imagine 3 caiques smushed together into a standard size metal food bowl? I have no idea why they do that.

My caiques are voracious eaters and Cricket mimics a bit. Neither Splash nor Squeaky have spoken yet. They love fruits of just about every kind. Cricket lives for her piece of walnut every day.

As for noise, I can say based on my experience so far, that Cricket is far louder and moodier than Splash and Squeaky. Cricket makes the typical caique "beeping" sounds and she will shriek in excitement when she sees me coming with a special treat -- and boy, can she shriek loudly!! Splash and Squeaky seem to make the most noise when they are wrestling together but nothing ear-splitting although Cooper (my macaw) will usually yell at them to get them to stop -- I honestly think he gets worried they will get hurt when he sees them rolling around and wrestling at the bottom of the cage.

My caiques love to hang upside down and they think nothing of walking upside down clear across the ceiling of their cage. Its like they are walking on the floor. And all 3 caiques are little "hoppers". I've never seen parrots that hop and jump as much as they.

Caiques have huge personalities in little packages and I have read that they are fearless in attacking birds much larger than themselves. For this reason, I do not allow mine out when my other birds are out of their cages. One of their favorite things to do is to get on the bed with me and crawl all around, playing and wrestling with themselves and my fingers.

I love my caiques. I think they are great parrots and highly recommend them. I also have a yellow nape amazon. Totally different relationship with her. Stella loves to be on me and beak wrestle but she is not tactile like the caiques -- I can literally roll the caiques all around and they are happier and happier the more I do. Stella, like most amazons from what I hear, does not like to be handled in that fashion -- she loves to beak wrestle and will allow me to pet her anywhere on her body but she is not one who likes "roughhousing" like the caiques.

Gee, sorry for being so long winded. Hope this info helps! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks so much. Do you think one caique would be ok alone in a cage? (of course he would have his time out like the other birds and plenty of interaction time) It sonds like your guys love to be with eachother. I have a totally different relationship with my yellow nape, like you said, than my other birds, although when hes in the mood, he likes to roll arround on the floor or on my chest and be pet all over and bob up and down on his cage screaming out different words and mimicing me. key word is when he's in the mood... I have a lot more research to do and of course check out how much room I have once I'm moved into the new place, but Caiques seem really awsome. Thanks for the info

Kelly - you summed up those little creatures perfectly! Mine is very quiet. I also have one at the store.... my little secret. He's in the office by my desk. Both are BH caiques and both are wonderful and very quiet. My BF has a WB. That bird is amazing. He is 4 years old and has the best personality. He DOES chase his B&G macaw and has absolutely no fear, as you noted. They are smaller birds but do require a huge cage - the bigger the better. They are full of energy. I think they are fine by themselves (my opinion only). They will rule the roost though. They are very independent and can learn to play on their own and amuse themselves.

Kelly - I love the part about yours sleeping smushed together. It's funny - at the store, they sleep in a pyramid and whoever is on the bottom is the lucky one.

I also agree with Counsel ...

I have 4 Caiques now myself (one actually is a partnership deal - I'm sure I can purchase him someday though (if need be) rather than return him to his prior keeper).

Caiques are one of the last species I have acquired but they may be my "in general" favorite now (as a species). They are soooo cool and sooooo much fun.

Have you ever known any other birds to sleep like that, Kathie? I assume they do this in the wild? With mine, didn't matter if white belly or blackhead, all 3 would jam themselves into the same bowl. Looked like 3 little piggies sleeping in there. Never saw them do the pyramid thing though -- guess 3 makes a pretty small pyramid! LOL

Josh, I hear of several folks with 1 caique. I think it would be nicer if each had a playmate but those who only have one say they are still just as playful and entertain themselves just fine. By the way, your yellow nape is the same age as mine! Great bird, isn't he? Mine talks and sings up a storm. She is a real character.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Splash got her name because one of her favorite things is to jump into her water bowl and splash around. She does it several times a week.

Kelly - my caique at home fell in love with my GCC (see my siggy). They sleep so close together that they appear to be one. So I am not sure if this is Chaos (my caique) teaching Jimmy (GCC) this habit or vice versa. I should do some research on your question about the caiques in a natural habitat.

Justjoshin, I'm glad you started this thread - now I won't have to. I would like to 1 day get a caique & have been wanting to know more about their personalities.
Now can someone please tell me just how long they are from head to tail?