[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Aratinga solstitialis | [authority] Linnaeus, 1758 | [UK] Sun Parakeet | [FR] Conure soleil | [DE] Sonnensittich | [ES] Aratinga Sol | [NL] Zonparkiet
| Genus |
Species |
subspecies |
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| Aratinga |
solstitialis |
|
SA |
ne, e Amazonia |
Genus
The parrot genus Aratinga comprises 24 species. Aratinga is a genus of American parakeets. They belong to the long-tailed group. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild. In Brazil the popular name of several species usually is Jandaia, sometimes written as Jandaya in the scientific form.
The genus Aratinga includes species with habitat from South America to Mexico. Birds in the Aratinga genus have a “swift, direct flight” that differs from other similar birds according to “Parrots of the World.” Other characteristics include the males and females looking alike, a fully feathered face and a rather long tail that starts wide at the base and becomes slender at the tip.
Their body build is slender, and their feathers are bright, iridescent shades of orange, blue, yellow and green. Unlike some other species which have definite coloration patterns, the sun parakeets sometimes have a combination of these colors over almost any part of their bodies. Young sun parakeets tend to have feathers which are predominantly green, while older birds sport more of the yellow or reddish-orange. This change of feather coloring from green to the brighter oranges, golds and yellows is most noticeable on the back, abdomen and head of the bird as it matures. General plumage is yellow and green while the cheeks, forehead, abdomen and down to the lower back are tinged with bright fiery orange. The outer webs of the primary flight feathers are a deep blue while the primaries are bright green; the secondaries are also green. The upper side of the tail is colored an olive-green with blue tips; the under tail-coverts are green with a marked yellow tinge; the median and greater upper wing-coverts are green with yellow edging. All of these colors become brighter and more vivid as the bird matures, with some birds sporting almost totally yellow tones in their body color. The beak and feet are both black.
Listen to the sound of Sun Parakeet
[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PSITTACIFORMES/Psittacidae/sounds/Sun Parakeet.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
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South America : Northeast, East Amazonia
Tropical and subtropical grasslands and lightly timbered areas They occur principally in natural savannas, but have been found in seasonally inundated scrub forest along the banks of the Amazon River.
Breeding season possibly from December to March. These birds use cavities in palm trees as nesting sites, but the details of its breeding behavior in the wild are still unknown. In captivity clutch is usually 4 eggs incubated by the female. young fledge after about 8 weeks.
Diet consists of fruit, seeds and berries, but poorly known. the Whiteeyed
Parakeet is known to forage both in the treetops and on the ground which is uncommon amongst Aratinga.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDrrbaxv2LU
copyright: Josep del Hoyo
This recently split species has been listed as Endangered owing to a very rapid reduction in its population size during the last three decades. Although it was formerly fairly common, trapping for the cagebird trade has extirpated it from much of its former range and it is now in urgent need of effective protection.
Found in Northeast Brazil in states of Roraima, northern Amazonas, Para and possibly also Amapa ; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana and extreme southeast Venezuela.
Resident throughout range.
Literature
Title Notes on the distribution and natural history of the Sun Parakeet Aratinga solstitialis solstitialis.
Author(s): Leo Joseph
Abstract: Knowledge of Aratinga solstitialis is reviewed and..[more]..
Source: ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL 3: 17-26
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