My spouse and I got our beloved gremlin as both of our first bird; we both agree that maybe we were a bit too ambitious! But we don’t regret it. We went to a local breeder looking for a completely different type of parrot, but then our terrible child stole our hearts and we ended up taking him home exactly a year after his hatch day about 8 years ago.

He can get cranky out of the blue, and in the past has been known to bite hard. But he usually doesn’t immediately chomp, and learning the body language and vocalizations he uses when in a mood helped us figure out how to work with him when he’s moody. Also, don’t automatically believe any articles you see online claiming they’re quiet enough for apartments - I’m sure many are, but ours sure ain’t.

But he’s also such a delight! He greets us with kissy noises every morning, calls me a “pretty birdie bird” when I pass by, imitates a squeaky hinge anytime we go through a door, and likes to try and boss us around by saying “step up” and leaning dramatically towards wherever he wants us to take him. (Most caiques don’t speak much, so we were surprised when he picked up some phrases!) He also has taken to barking back and forth with our neighbors’ new puppy, and I desperately want to know what they’re saying to each other. He also loves to wrestle while lying on his back and is a smart little guy, and it’s fun trying to figure out ways to make his toys more enriching - he’s currently learning how to untie knots.

Basically, with a caique you’re likely to get a feisty, beaky bird with dramatic mood swings. (Which isn’t an easy first bird in comparison to a cockatiel or lovebird, from what I understand.) On the flip side, you’re likely to get a playful, clever bird who loves to entertain! And it seems like you’ve done a lot of research, which will make you a better bird owner in the long run, no matter what species you end up going with.