Info about caiques?

[Parrot101]

Hi,
I am planning to adopt a caique and would like to know some more info about them. I read that caiques are not good flyers and that they do most of their exercise by walking/hopping. Is this true? I also read that they are cave dwellers. Is this true and if so, does that have anything to do with their bad flying skills? Also, I like science so does anyone know a good source to find out about caique biology and natural habitat? Or if anyone knows allot about caiques biology and natural habitat any info you could share would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Flboy]

Prep for a clown!
[ame="https://youtu.be/VN_WzpQgDtY"]Funny parrot stomping around like its mad. Full HD best video!! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[rita1]

mine love flying and fly really well. i took away the caves as this can make them hormonal. great little birds, they are full of energy and will take over your life.

 

[Parrot101]

Hi,
The way I understood was that their natural habitat was caves in South America. Not the cave/huts that you buy for them. I was wondering if that was true?

 

[Ezekiell]

Caiques are a lower story South American parrot, as far as I'm aware they don't do caves at all. They are clowns and will prefer to walk/hop/climb about - mine loves inverting himself on the cage bars and swinging around upside down. They can and do fly, but they're clumsy because of their large weight compared to other similarly sized birds. Maui is came home clipped from the breeder, so he can't fly until he molts the flights back in, but that doesn't stop him adopting the "I'm gonna fly!" position and sometimes trying liftoff to get where he wants to go.

 

[Parrot101]

Does anyone know of a good source to find out about caique biology?

 

[Laurasea]

Best I can do
https://hari.ca/hari/global-networking/conservation-education/conservation-caiques-wild/

https://www.parrots.org/encyclopedia/white-bellied-parrot

 

[Parrot101]

Does anyone know if caiques get most of their exercise by walking/hopping. Or do they get most of their exercise by flying? Maybe both?

 

[Ezekiell]

Caiques prefer to walk or hop but they can and do fly. Like with any parrot, the main good source of exercise is flight. Flight burns a lot of energy and is the most complex mental task a bird can do - birds are designed to fly so anything less really isn't going to cut it for their activity level needs.

 

[saurian]

From what I've seen, they're little jokers! Fun, energetic and love to play.

 

[Gemster]

I have heard that Caiques do prefer to walk and hop, which I know is true for most, but Gemma prefers to fly. When perched on my hand she will fly off, making the biggest circle and return. (But of course I did teach this and I don’t mind if she does it without me asking).