Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Pointes
Species: melanocephala

Range & Habitat
Guiana, Brazil, Columbia, Peru and Ecuador in the Tropical Rainforests.

Reproduction & Growth
Mating pairs are monogamous and often pair for life. They commonly nest in holes of trees. A female lays 2-4 eggs and incubation is 27 days. The eggs are incubated solely by the female, while the male feeds her. The babies are born altricial, blind and helpless, and may stay in the nest for up to 3 1/2 months. They attain sexual maturity at 2-4 years.

Diet - Herbivores
In the Wild: Fruits, vegetables and seeds

In the Zoo: Parrot Mix (seeds, dried peppers, dog kibble), fruits, vegetables

General Information
Black Headed Caiques have a very strong, hooked bill and flexible tongue to open nuts as well as preen. The bill acts as a third foot to help the bird climb. They have two back toes and two front toes to use for perching and for holding and manipulating food. When a potential predator is near, the flock falls silent and then all at once takes off with a loud and confusing array of color and noise; this often will startle a predator and save the parrots from danger. As a whole, parrots are a successful species, although that is changing because of tropical deforestation and the black market pet trade.

In the Zoo
Currently at the zoo we have five Black Headed Caiques. Two parents and three babies.

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