Sun Parakeet

Adults have bright golden-yellow plumage with orange-red on the face, belly, and base of the tail. The wings are predominantly green and blue, and the tail is olive-green tipped with blue. Juveniles are mostly greenish-yellow with duller orange markings.

Extensive bright yellow body, contrasting orange-red face and underparts, blue primary wing feathers, and green-and-blue tail.

Length: 30 cm (12 inches), Wingspan: approx. 40-45 cm, Weight: 100-120 grams.

Extremely loud, shrill, and repetitive screeches and squawks, often given in flight or when disturbed.

Fruits, flowers, berries, seeds, nuts, and occasionally insects. They forage actively in the forest canopy using their strong beaks and feet.

Arid or semi-arid coastal forests, palm groves, dry savannas, and lightly wooded interior lowlands.

Non-migratory resident, though they may undertake local nomadic movements in search of seasonal food sources.

Nests in tree cavities, typically high up in dead palm trunks. Clutch size is usually 3 to 4 eggs, incubated mainly by the female while the male provides food.

Jenday Conure (Aratinga jendaya) and Golden-capped Parakeet (Aratinga auricapillus), both of which have distinct dark green wings and different head/body coloration patterns.

Acts as a seed disperser for various forest and savanna plants, helping to maintain forest regeneration and biodiversity.

Endangered, with decreasing population trends primarily due to trapping for the pet trade and habitat loss.

Look and listen for flocks high in tree canopies or flying overhead; their loud, screeching calls usually give away their presence before they are seen.

Sun parakeets form strong, lifelong monogamous pair bonds and are known to preen each other frequently as a sign of affection.