View source for Caique

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{About||Spanish title|cacique|Turkish fishing boat|caïque|other uses}}

{{Automatic taxobox
 | name = Caiques
 | image = Pionites melanocephala DT -Q Yasuní- (4) (20684657579).jpg
 | image_caption = [[Black-headed parrot]] (''Pionites melanocephalus''), Yasuní, Ecuador
 | taxon = Pionites
 | authority = [[Ferdinand Heine|Heine]], 1890
 | type_species = ''[[Black-headed parrot|Psittacus melanocephalus]]''<ref name=HM4>{{cite web |url= https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=67 |title= Psittacidae |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= aviansystematics.org |publisher= The Trust for Avian Systematics |access-date= 2023-07-24}}</ref>
 | type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1758
 | subdivision_ranks = Species
 | subdivision = 
*''[[Black-headed parrot|Pionites melanocephalus]]''
*''[[White-bellied parrot|Pionites leucogaster]]''
**''[[Green-thighed parrot|Pionites leucogaster leucogaster]]''
**''[[Black-legged parrot|Pionites leucogaster xanthomerius]]''<ref name=Kirwan2014>del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. & Kirwan, G. M. (2014). Black-legged Parrot (''Pionites xanthomerius''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D. A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2014). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive''. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/467506 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305115413/https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/whbpar1/cur/introduction |date=2023-03-05 }} on 24 October 2015)</ref>
**''[[Yellow-tailed parrot|Pionites leucogaster xanthurus]]''<ref name=Kirwan2014/>
 | range_map = Pionites Range.png
 | range_map_caption = Ranges of [[black-headed parrot]] (green) and white-bellied parrot complex overlap
}}

'''Caique''' ({{IPAc-en|k|aɪ|ˈ|iː|k}} or {{IPAc-en|k|ɑː|ˈ|iː|k}}<ref>{{Citation |last = Jones |first = Daniel |author-link = Daniel Jones (phonetician) |title = English Pronouncing Dictionary |editor = Peter Roach |editor2 = James Hartmann |editor3 = Jane Setter |place = Cambridge |publisher = Cambridge University Press |orig-date = 1917 |year = 2003 |isbn=3-12-539683-2 }}</ref>) refers to two to four species of [[parrot]]s in the [[genus]] '''''Pionites''''' endemic to the [[Amazon Basin]] in [[South America]].

==Name==
The term "caique" is primarily used in aviculture, with ornithologists typically referring to them as the '''black-headed parrot''' and '''white-bellied parrot''', the latter of which is sometimes further split into three separate species, green-thighed parrot, yellow-tailed parrot and black-legged parrot. 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.{{cn|date=December 2024}} They exhibit high social intelligence.

==Description==
The two species are best distinguished by the black-headed parrot's black crown; both have white "bellies". Their typical weight is 150–170&nbsp;grams, with the white-bellied species being the larger and heavier of the two species. They can live up to 40 years, but this is not common in captivity.

==Distribution and habitat==
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==
The genus ''Pionites'' is classified as two species, the [[black-headed parrot]] and [[white-bellied parrot]]. Some recent morphological work has suggested that the white-bellied parrot should be split into three species based on plumage and leg coloration,<ref name=Kirwan2014/> though this has not been accepted by either the IOC World Bird List,<ref name="IOC">{{cite web | title=Parrots, cockatoos | website=IOC World Bird List – Version 14.2 | date=2024-08-17 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/parrots/ | access-date=2024-12-17}}</ref> or the South American Classification Committee.<ref name="SACC">{{cite web | title=A classification of the bird species of South America | website=museum.lsu.edu | date=2024-12-06 | url=https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline05.htm | access-date=2024-12-17}}</ref> In the past these parrots were often allied with the [[conure]]s or other South American parakeets. Recent mitochondrial and nuclear DNA work has found ''Pionites'' to be the sister taxon to the ''Deroptyus'' (the genus that contains the [[red-fan parrot]]); the two genera occupy a basal position in the tribe [[Arini (tribe)|Arini]].<ref>Tavares, Erika Sendra, et al. "Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of neotropical parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae: Arini) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences". Systematic Biology 55.3 (2006): 454–470.</ref>

{| style="width:70%;" class="wikitable" border="1"
! align="center" style="background-color: #D3D3A4" colspan ="4" |'''''Pionites'''''
|- 
! width = "20%" |Common name<br />(''Scientific name'')<br />Status
! Image
! align="center" |Description
! width = "30%" |Region and habitat
|-
| [[White-bellied parrot]]<br />
([[Green-thighed parrot]])<br />
(''Pionites leucogaster leucogaster'')<br />
[[Vulnerable species|Vulnerable]]<ref>{{Cite iucn|author=BirdLife International |author-link=BirdLife International |year= 2022 |title= ''Pionites leucogaster'' |article-number= e.T62181308A209668837 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T62181308A209668837.en |access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref>
| [[File:Pionites leucogaster leucogaster, Paragominas, Pará, Brazil 7.jpg|center|500x150px]]
| About {{cvt|23|cm|in}} long. Mostly green and pink feet; apricot-orange cap; a medium, stout parrot.
| Amazon region of [[Brazil]]<br /><br />Lives in lowland humid tropical and seasonally flooded forest.<ref>Collar, N., Kirwan, G. M. & Boesman, P. (2014). Green-thighed Parrot (''Pionites leucogaster''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D. A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2014). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive''. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/54710 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305115631/https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/whbpar1/cur/introduction |date=2023-03-05 }} on 3 January 2015).</ref>
|-
| [[White-bellied parrot]]<br />
([[Yellow-tailed parrot]])<br />
(''Pionites leucogaster xanthurus'')<br />
[[Least-concern species|Least concern]]<ref>{{Cite iucn|title=''Pionites xanthurus''|article-number=e.T62181371A210186590|last=BirdLife International|year=2022|access-date=26 June 2023|author-link=BirdLife International|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T62181371A210186590.en}}</ref>
| 
|About {{cvt|23|cm|in}} long. Similar to the black-legged parrot, but yellow tail and pink feet.
| Amazon region of southern [[Brazil]]<br /><br />Lives in lowland humid tropical and seasonally flooded forest.<ref>del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. & Kirwan, G. M. (2014). Yellow-tailed Parrot (''Pionites xanthurus''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D. A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2014). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive''. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/467507 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305115655/https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/whbpar1/cur/introduction |date=2023-03-05 }} on 3 January 2015).</ref>
|-
| [[White-bellied parrot]]<br />
([[Black-legged parrot]])<br />
(''Pionites leucogaster xanthomerius'')<br />
[[Least concern]]<ref name="BirdLife (2015) 1">BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: ''Pionites xanthomerius''. Downloaded from {{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.org |title=BirdLife International - conserving the world's birds |access-date=2012-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710124603/http://www.birdlife.org/ |archive-date=2007-07-10 }} on 03/01/2015.</ref>
| [[File:Pionites leucogaster - White-bellied Parrot; Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil.jpg|center|500x150px]]
| About {{cvt|23|cm|in}} long. Similar to the green-thighed subspecies of  white-bellied parrot, but yellow-thighs and blackish feet.
| Parts of [[Bolivia]], [[Peru]] and [[Brazil]]<br /><br />Prefers seasonally flooded forest.<ref name="BirdLife (2015) 2">{{cite iucn|author=BirdLife International |author-link=BirdLife International |year= 2016 |title=''Pionites xanthomerius'' |article-number= e.T62181349A95192110 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T62181349A95192110.en |access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref> 
|-
| [[Black-headed parrot]]<br />
(''Pionites melanocephalus'')<br />
[[Least concern]]<ref>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |author-link=BirdLife International |year=2016 |title=''Pionites melanocephalus'' |article-number=e.T22686079A93098194 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22686079A93098194.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref>
| [[File:Pionites melanocephala DT -Q Yasuní- (8) (20248806544).jpg|center|500x150px]]
| About {{cvt|23|cm|in}} long. Mostly green, with yellow thighs with hints of orange; blackish feet; black cap with a black bill; a medium, chunky parrot.<ref>Collar, N. & Boesman, P. (2013). Black-headed Parrot (''Pionites melanocephalus''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2013). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive''. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/54709 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305115656/https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/blhpar4/cur/introduction |date=2023-03-05 }} on 3 January 2015).</ref>
| Parts of [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], [[the Guianas]], [[Peru]], and [[Brazil]]<br /><br />Lives in lowland humid tropical and seasonally flooded forest.<ref>BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: ''Pionites melanocephalus''. Downloaded from {{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.org |title=BirdLife International - conserving the world's birds |access-date=2012-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710124603/http://www.birdlife.org/ |archive-date=2007-07-10 }}</ref>
|}

==Natural history==
===Behavior and ecology===
These parrots are found in the edges of forests and secondary-growth forests.<ref>Forshaw, J. M. 1973. ''Parrots of the World''. Lansdowne Press, Melbourne, Australia. pp. 481–483.</ref> They usually forage on at higher levels in the canopy, although they can also be found lower at forest edges. At least two members of the flock act as sentries during feeding time. Their diet consists of flowers, fruit, pulp, and seeds, although in captivity they are known to eat insects. Depending on the species and the location, they can breed from October to May at various times of the year. Caiques are high-nesting cavity birds and roost communally. They exhibit pack-like behavior when defending against threats.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} This may help to explain their relative self-confidence, compared to other parrots.{{Speculation inline|date=February 2024}} Caiques are also known to form ad-hoc defensive committees in response to predators. The number of the flock is usually around 10 to 30 individuals.<ref>Juniper, T., and M. Parr. 1998. ''Parrots. A Guide to Parrots of the World''. Yale University Press, New Haven, CN pp. 503–505.</ref> White-bellied caiques in the [[Tambopata National Reserve]] have been observed to be [[geophagy|geophagous]].<ref>Gilardi Dissertation, 1996</ref>

The species of the white-bellied parrot complex is found in humid forest and wooded habitats in the [[Amazon Basin|Amazon]] south of the [[Amazon River]] in [[Bolivia]], [[Brazil]], and [[Peru]]. It is generally fairly common throughout its range and is easily seen in a wide range of protected areas, such as the [[Manú National Park]] and [[Tambopata-Candamo]] in Peru, Cristalino State Park (near [[Alta Floresta]]), [[Xingu National Park]] and [[Amazônia National Park]] in Brazil, and [[Madidi National Park]] in Bolivia.

The black-headed parrot is found in forest (especially, but not exclusively, humid) and nearby wooded habitats in the [[Amazon Basin|Amazon]] north of the [[Amazon River]] and west of the [[Ucayali River]] in [[Brazil]], northern [[Bolivia]], [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]], [[French Guiana]], [[Guyana]], [[Peru]], [[Suriname]], and [[Venezuela]]. It is generally fairly common and occurs in many protected areas throughout its range.

Caiques have a few unique ways of moving. They "surf" (described below), "hop" (when excited or to move quickly without flying), and "shuffle" (often in a rapid, backwards direction). They flip their wings rapidly, which exposes their red/orange patch under the wing, to potentially communicate to one another or other animals. They make different types of "purring" noises; some express wariness, others interest. They purr quietly when enjoying a drink. A startle call causes all caiques in the vicinity to take flight in random directions regardless of the initiator. A sound resembling a dead battery on a smoke detector is the typical contact call for the black-headed parrot.

When highly stimulated, caiques [[eye pinning|pin and flash their pupils]], making their emotional state obvious. They are likely to attack and bite when displaying pinning and/or flashing eyes.  Caiques are highly vocal and can inflict severely damaging bites. Caiques' wing feathers produce a distinctive whirring sound in flight.

===Aviculture===
[[File:Caique-onback1.jpg|thumb|Juvenile white-bellied caique on back playing]]
Caiques are growing in popularity in [[aviculture]]. The more commonly found species is the black-headed caique since it was introduced first in captivity, but the white-bellied caique's popularity is growing rapidly. Well-raised caiques bond well with humans and have a reputation as playful and energetic birds that enjoy playing with toys and lying on their backs. These birds sometimes perform a behavior unusual for avian species in which they roll over on their backs in apparent play-fighting with other caiques—sometimes called "wrestling".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Cbtk0CqIkhM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151207044809/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbtk0CqIkhM Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbtk0CqIkhM| title = Mango Kiwi Caique: Funny Play | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/RDMOyd8E-Jo Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151207043935/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDMOyd8E-Jo Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDMOyd8E-Jo| title = Caiques wrestling | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/y6UrdzGc5-4| archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6UrdzGc5-4| title = Jojo and Abu Caiques wrestle: Abu does somersault & Jojo headbutts | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> They are not particularly good flyers, becoming tired and winded after only a short distance. They also tend to be clumsy and slow in the air compared to other birds. They often prefer to walk, jump, climb, ride other animals' backs, or hop as a mode of transportation. They are excellent climbers, with very strong feet and legs.

Caiques also exhibit a unique behavior known as "surfing", where the bird will vigorously rub its face, wings and chest against any nearby soft item (e.g. carpets, towels, cushions, crumpled paper, curtains or human hair) while using its beak to pull itself along. The bird will display jerky movements and may roll over several times. This behavior is thought to be a cleaning or bathing motion and occurs regardless of age or sex. In the wild, caiques use wet leaves for this behavior.<ref name="Blanchard">{{cite web |last1=Blanchard |first1=Sally |title=The Bird That Would Be King: The Black-headed Caique |url=http://shadypines.com/caiqking.htm |publisher=Companion Parrots Magazine |access-date=23 October 2021 |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023222123/http://shadypines.com/caiqking.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In captivity caiques are capable of breeding at under three years of age.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clownparrots.com/index.php/menu-breeding-caiques |title=clownparrots.com |access-date=2016-02-03 |archive-date=2016-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204030314/http://clownparrots.com/index.php/menu-breeding-caiques |url-status=live }}</ref> They typically lay a clutch of four eggs, with incubation taking between 24 and 27 days. Most pairs will struggle to raise all four chicks; often the last chick to hatch will not survive unless it is taken for hand-rearing or co-parenting. Chicks are fed by both parents and remain in the nest box for approximately 70–75 days. Parents can be very affectionate towards their offspring and after the chicks have fledged they will return to the nest box each night with their parents where the family will roost as a group.

==Conservation==
The nominal species of black-headed caique and white-bellied caique are listed on Appendix 2 of [[CITES]] as a species of [[Least Concern]] but subspecies are more endangered; in reality, data is insufficient as with many parrots.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141205032709/https://companionparrotonline.com/PSP_Caiques.html Popular description] - Companion Parrot Online Website

{{Psittacopasseres|Ps.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q579914}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Parrots of South America]]
[[Category:Arinae]]
[[Category:Pionites|.]]
[[Category:Birds of the Amazon rainforest]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Ferdinand Heine]]