The term “caique” is primarily used in aviculture, with ornithologists typically referring to them as the “black-headed parrot” and “white-bellied parrot” (which is sometimes further split into three separate species – green-thighed parrot, yellow-tailed parrot and black-legged parrot) to describe the nominal species.
They have historically been called the “seven-colored parrot”. They are relatively small and stocky, with a short, square tail and bright colors; this may be why they are referred to as “caique” based on the term for a similarly described Turkish vessel. They exhibit high social intelligence.
The two primary nominal species are best distinguished by the black-headed caique’s black crown; both have white “bellies”. Their typical weight is 150–170 grams, with the white-bellied species being the larger and heavier of the two nominal species. They can live up to 40 years, but this is not common in captivity.
The black-headed caique is found north of the Amazon River, and the white-bellied caique south; there is a large area of overlap between ranges. They can produce fertile hybrids, but this is not common in the wild as it is in captivity. They generally prefer forested areas and subsist on fruit and seeds. Caiques are generally canopy dwellers, spending most of their time in the tops of trees, foraging and playing.
Taxonomy and systematics
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