Are Caique Parrots Good Pets?
Lovingly referred to as the clowns and comedians of the Parrot family, Caique parrots make wonderful additions to the family. More specifically, these birds are described as being highly energetic, intelligent, and playful, so it’s pretty safe to say that, if a caique is in the home, no two days will be the same!
These active and sociable little parrots have plenty of personalities and often like to entertain their owners. They love to sing, chatter, and even dance and are even intelligent enough to learn a trick or two.
Besides entertaining their owners, the loveable, clownish behavior of the caique also means that they’re packed full of curiosity, and many caique owners love to see their little parrot wandering around the home, finding new places to explore.

With all that being said, it really should come as no surprise to hear that many caique owners like their little parrot’s behavior to that of a dog. Not only are they intelligent enough to learn tricks and perform them on command, but they also are well known for forming strong attachments with their owners that last a lifetime.
Plus, similar to a four-legged friend, caiques love to play fetch and tug-of-war with their owners and even enjoy a cuddle when they’re tired.
However, just like with all types of pets, it’s important to be aware of some of the negative traits of a caique. Despite them being generally well mannered and well behaved, they’re known for their cheeky personalities, so don’t be surprised if you find that your caique tries to climb into small places to hide, or even nip at your fingers when they’re in the mood to play and get your attention.
Additionally, if you have any other birds in your home, it’s very important to consider whether or not introducing a caique is a good idea, because these parrots have a tendency to be aggressive towards other types of birds, regardless of species.
In particular, caique parrots are known to be unkind towards any companion birds that share the same cage and can get particularly aggressive if they feel that a bird is getting more attention and food than them.
Though it’s not out of the question to keep a caique alongside other birds, you will need to be on the lookout for any of these behaviors from your caique, as they are prone to getting a little bit feisty and dominant.
Are Caique loud?
Caique parrots are known to be one of the liveliest out of all in the parrot family, so it only makes sense that they should be loud, right? Not exactly.
Generally speaking, even though caiques are full of energy and personality, they tend to vocalize at a moderate level, so you won’t have to worry about them constantly chirping and talking at a very high noise level. In fact, believe it or not, caiques actually operate at a much quieter noise level than all other species of parrot.
However, it is worth noting that they can sometimes emit a very high-pitched scream, and this is often down to either them trying to get the attention of their owners or because they are feeling cranky!
If they are feeling a little bit on the moody side, then you may also notice that your caique tries to nip at your fingers, or is mean towards their companion.
As for speech, some caique may be able to learn to speak a few words, although you’ll likely find that your caique prefers to stick to his usual bird chatter.
Plus, besides playfully mimicking you and other sounds that they hear in their environment, caiques also love to sing, so you’ll no doubt be able to enjoy all of the unique songs your little caique makes up while playing, pruning, and exploring your house!
Are caiques affectionate?
If you’re already the owner of a little caique, then we’re sure you’ll have already noticed how sociable and outgoing your parrot is!
Even though caiques can be prone to moodiness, they are generally very well-mannered and playful little birds that absolutely love their owners.
Lovingly known as “clown” birds, caiques are real characters that love to entertain their owners by singing, mimicking sounds, and even playing games.
Besides loving to play and spend time with their owners, once a bond has been established, caiques are also known to be extremely loving and affectionate towards their owners, as well as other members of the family.
In order to show their owners that they love them, caiques will often want to be around their owners and call to be let out of their cage.
Once they are free to roam around, caiques will often allow their owners to handle and pick them up, or alternatively, caiques will fly onto their owner’s lap, shoulder or hand.
Besides allowing their owners to handle them, caiques also frequently like to rub their heads into their owner’s hands as a form of endearment and are even known to love a cuddle when they’re sleepy or to keep warm.
Are caiques good for beginners?
Though everyone’s situation is different, caiques are generally not recommended for beginner bird owners because they are extremely energetic and needy.
Similar to a toddler or puppy, caiques require constant mental stimulation and if they don’t get it, they can begin to display negative behaviors such as biting and general crankiness. They can also be aggressive by nature towards their companion birds.
Besides needing lots of attention and playtime, caiques will also require a lot of training from their owners in order to help prevent temperamental episodes, as well as to help establish a bond and good level of trust.
This means that a lot of time will need to be invested into the caique bird (especially in the beginning stages) and this may be quite overwhelming for someone who has never owned a bird before.
Do Caiques like to cuddle?
Besides being bundles of energy and always on the go, just like us, caiques like to snuggle down with their favorite people when they’re sleepy or in the mood for a cuddle. However, caiques will only ever cuddle with their owners or people that they already have an attachment to.
These cute parrots will often choose to either sit on your shoulder and burrow their heads into your neck or sometimes they will even choose to sit directly on your lap so that you can pet them with your fingers.
Believe it or not, some caiques will even try to stroke the strands of hair on your head as a form of grooming and affection.
However, it is important to keep in mind that no one caique is the same, so you might find that while one caique absolutely loves to have a snuggle with their owner, another might get very distressed whenever it is handled.
Caiques are known for being quite feisty from time to time, so it’s imperative that you never force your pet to cuddle with you, otherwise he might nip at you and become upset and anxious.
Nevertheless, so long as you have a good relationship with your caique and spent plenty of time with him, then it’s highly likely that your caique is going to want to cuddle with you.
If you want to try and make your parrot more domesticated, you should make sure that you are regularly spending time with him so that a bond can be formed and trust can be established.
Alongside this, you should also be sure to train your caique, to help lower the chances of your caique displaying aggressive behavior when handled.
Not just that, but alongside the occasional cuddle, caiques are known for “surfing” and “wrestling” with their owners – which are two behaviors that are entirely unique to the caique parrot!
Surfing consists of rubbing themselves across soft materials such as blankets and curtains, so you might find that they “surf” against you as a way to show their affection. Additionally, during playtime sessions, caique parrots love to lay on their backs and play fight their owners with their feet.
Do all caiques hop?
Yes, all caiques are able to hop! Caique parrots have a true childlike spirit that makes them happy, joyful, and playful little companions to have around the house.
Once they are let out of their cage and free to roam around, caiques will happily hop, dance and roll around the house as their curiosity leads them to new and unexplored areas. Caiques may also hop around their cages, especially while playing.
If your caique likes to hop around, then this is a very good sign that your caique is happy, thriving, and comfortable in its surroundings! However, if you’re noticing that your caique is not hopping around or being its normal playful self, then this could be a sign that he is not being mentally stimulated enough.
This is more supported by the fact that caiques aren’t overly known for being loud and talkative, so the best way to understand their mental state is by observing their behavior.
If your caique is not being given enough things to stay entertained (especially seeing as he’ll need to stay inside his cage for around eight hours a day) then it could cause your caique to become lethargic, disinterested, and even moody.
Due to this lack of mental stimulation, you may also find that your caique doesn’t want to sing, play or hop around — so it’s very important that you regularly play with your caique and ensure there are plenty of things to do.
This can be through games, exploring the house, and regular playtime sessions throughout the week.
However, if you feel that you will not be able to play with your caique as often as you would like, then you may need to consider buying your caique a companion bird. This is especially true if you have a caique that is especially energetic and you’re struggling to keep up with his demands!
How smart is a Caique?
Though there are a lot of bird species that make great additions to the family as pets, no birds are quite as playful or mischievous as the vibrant caique! These intelligent birds have cheeky personalities that are unlike any other type of pet bird, and they also just so happen to be very clever, too.
If you are planning on purchasing a caique, then it’s important to be aware that these types of birds are highly inquisitive and intelligent, which can make for a recipe for disaster for those who have never owned a bird before!
Caiques have a lot of energy and are true busybodies, so you’ll need to make sure that your caique is mentally stimulated and entertained for almost the entirety of its waking hours, otherwise you may find yourself having a moody and naughty caique on your hands.
Caique parrots love to play games and explore and are well-known for wanting to play games with their owners such as fetch and even tug of war – so you’ll need to make sure you can keep up with your caique’s quick mind and bundles of energy!
Plus, besides needing constant mental stimulation, caiques are also clever enough to be able to learn tricks and perform them on command, which is a great way for you and your caique to bond and help your little caique to trust in you.