Caique Species & Sub-species

There are two species in the genus Pionites: Leucogaster, commonly called the White-belly, and Melanocephala, commonly called the Black-head. Within these two species, there are 5 sub-species, 2 Black-headed and 3 White-bellied.

In the White-belly Caiques, there are three distinct sub-species. The nominate, or main form is Pionites l. leucogaster, commonly referred to as "Green Thigh" White Belly. Although it is the nominate, or main race, very few were ever imported to the US. There is a photo at http://www.arndt-verlag.com/pics/295_1.JPG  which shows both the Green thigh and Yellow thigh.

The sub-species Pionites l. xanthomeria, commonly referred to as "Yellow Thigh" White-belly, is the form we are all familiar with. Although it is a "sub-species" it is still most certainly considered a White-belly Caique as are the other two.

The common names "yellow-thigh" and "white-belly" both refer to the same bird. Think of it this way: all yellow thigh's are white-bellies, but not all white-bellies are yellow-thigh's.

The third sub-species, Pionites l. xanthurus, called the "Yellow-tailed Caique", is paler in coloration overall. There are no known examples of this sub-species in the US. There is a photo of this sub-species at: http://www.arndt-verlag.com/pics/295_2.JPG The geographical range of this sub-species is much smaller than that of the other two.

Of the Black Headed Caiques, Pionites m. melanocephala is the sub-species we are all familiar with. There is a sub-species, Pionites m. pallida, commonly called the "Pallid" Caique where all orange feathering is replaced with yellow feathers. Some believe possibly hybridization (both in captivity and possibly even in the wild) accounts for some of the color variations we see today among the Black-headed Caiques.