Species names in all available languages
| Language | Common name |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian | Слънчева аратинга |
| Catalan | aratinga sol |
| Chinese | 太陽鸚鵡 |
| Chinese (Hong Kong SAR China) | 金黃鸚哥 |
| Czech | aratinga zlatý |
| Dutch | Zonparkiet |
| English | Sun Parakeet |
| English (United States) | Sun Parakeet |
| French | Conure soleil |
| French (France) | Conure soleil |
| German | Sonnensittich |
| Icelandic | Glópáfi |
| Japanese | コガネメキシコインコ |
| Norwegian | solparakitt |
| Polish | konura słoneczna |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | jandaia-amarela |
| Portuguese (Portugal) | Jandaia-amarela |
| Russian | Солнечная аратинга |
| Serbian | Sunčana aratinga |
| Slovak | klinochvost zlatohlavý |
| Spanish | Aratinga Sol |
| Spanish (Spain) | Aratinga sol |
| Swedish | solparakit |
| Turkish | Güneş Rengi Papağan |
| Ukrainian | Аратинга золотистоперий |
Revision Notes
Guy M. Kirwan revised and standardized the account with Clements taxonomy. Peter Pyle contributed to the Plumages, Molts, and Structure page. Arnau Bonan Barfull curated the media.
Aratinga solstitialis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Definitions
- ARATINGA
- solsticialis / solstitialis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Sun Parakeet Aratinga solstitialis Scientific name definitions
Version: 2.0 — Published December 15, 2023
Photos from this Account
Sun Parakeet.
Sun Parakeets.
Possible confusion species: Golden Parakeet (Guaruba guarouba).
Golden Parakeet is larger and more robust, and lacks orange tones on the breast and belly.
Possible confusion species: Golden Parakeet (Guaruba guarouba).
Golden Parakeet has much paler bill.
Sun Parakeet.
Possible confusion species: Sulphur-breasted Parakeet (Aratinga maculata).
Sulphur-breasted Parakeet shows many fewer orange and red elements on the underparts and face, and has more variegated (mixed green-and-yellow) upperwing-coverts, and broadly blue-tipped rectrices.
Possible confusion species: Sulphur-breasted Parakeet (Aratinga maculata).
Sulphur-breasted Parakeet showing its mixed green-and-yellow upperwing-coverts.
Juvenile Sun Parakeet.
Juvenile Plumage is duller than Definitive Basic Plumage, with yellow and orange on the head washed with dusky and back and upperwing coverts dull greenish, the greater coverts often without yellow tips. It may also be possible that the underparts are more orange at this age. Primaries and rectrices are duller, narrower , and more tapered at the tips than basic feathers, and the rectrices may average shorter (although in this bird they may be damaged by being in captivity).
Sun Parakeet in Formative Plumage or undergoing Preformative Molt.
During the Preformative Molt (which may be protracted over the first year), dull green juvenile back feathers and some wing coverts are replaced by yellow feathers. Secondaries are dull green and appear all of one generation (juvenile). Juvenile upperwing coverts are dull green, the juvenile greater coverts without or with small yellow tips. Here note also the dark iris and dull and worn juvenile rectrices.
Sun Parakeet in Formative Plumage or undergoing Preformative Molt.
Juvenile remiges and rectrices are dull, narrow, and pointed or tapered at the tips, the worn condition indicating Formative as opposed to fresh Juvenile Plumage. Juvenile scapulars and upperwing secondary coverts are green, the greater coverts without distinct yellow tips.
Definitive Basic Sun Parakeet.
Definitive Basic Plumage is separated from Formative Plumage by entirely yellow back and upperwing lesser and median coverts. Primaries and secondaries are broader, more squared, brighter blue and green, and show molt clines; note here that the middle primaries (p6 or p5) more faded and gradually freshen in both directions to p1 and p10. It may be possible that birds such as this with entirely yellow backs and larger yellow tips to greater coverts are older but study on this is needed.
Definitive Basic Sun Parakeet.
Note the nearly complete yellow upperparts and wing coverts and the broad remiges with molt clines from the middle secondaries and primaries, freshening outwards in both directions within both tracts. It may be possible that birds with green among the yellow feathers (as here with at least one scapular) and smaller yellow tips to the greater coverts are younger definitive basic birds.
Definitive Basic Sun Parakeets.
Note the variation in the extent of yellow in the primary coverts, perhaps related to age. Note also the broad and truncate primaries and rectrices in these birds, basic feathers as befits the yellow upperparts indicating Definitive Basic Plumage. These birds are likely a pair; plumages of males and females are similar in this species.
Sun Parakeet undergoing Preformative Molt.
In this species juvenile upperpart feathers and upperwing lesser and median are green and gradually get replaced during the Preformative Molt with yellow feathers. The freshness of the remiges indicates younger juvenile feathers and indicates the Preformative Molt may be just beginning in this individual.
Sun Parakeet undergoing Definitive Prebasic Molt.
In parrots and parakeets including Sun Parakeet, remiges are replaced from nodes at p5-p6 and at s5, followed by bidirectional replacement from these nodes within each tract. In this individual p9, s1, and s2 are in molt and such bidirectional clines can be seen in both tracts. Outer rectrces also appear to be in molt, whereas body feathering appears fresh indicating molt of these has completed. The older (unmolted) p10 is broad, dark brown, and relatively fresh, indicating that this is a Definitive rather than the Second Prebasic Molt.
Sun Parakeet undergoing Definitive Prebasic Molt.
Here p4-p6 are fresh and molt is proceeding bidirectionally, with p7 and p3 dropped. Secondaries other than tertials may not have commenced molt yet. Unmolted remiges are blackish and broad indidicating basic feathers and that this is a Definitive rather than the Second Prebasic Molt.
Adult Sun Parakeet.
In adults and at all ages the bill is blackish to black and the cere grayish. Iris color can be dark brown to blackish but may become paler in older birds. Legs and feet are often dusky pinkish (as here) but have also been described as brownish or dusky gray; the soles of the feet are pink.
Adult Sun Parakeets.
Note the paler grayish iris on the bird to the left. Along with extensive yellow in the upperwing coverts, the paler iris may indicate and older bird. The bills are blackish and the legs and ffeet dusky pinkish in these adults.
Bird in its habitat; Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Guyana.
Bird in its habitat; Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Guyana.
Birds feeding on a tree; Roraima, Brazil.
Birds feeding on fruiting tree.
Bird feeding on leguminous fruit.
Bird feeding on palm flowers.
Flock of birds flying.
Birds allopreening.
Birds at hole of pole.
Macaulay Library Photos for Sun Parakeet
Top-rated photos submitted to the Macaulay Library via eBird. Note: Our content editors have not confirmed the species identification for these photos.
