Sun Parakeet Aratinga solstitialis

Striking parakeet, mostly yellow with a red-orange face, green wing coverts, and blue-green flight feathers. Occurs in savanna regions adjacent to tall forest and is often observed near forest edge or along rivers. Highly social and usually found in groups of up to several dozen individuals. Feeds on fruit and flowers, commuting long distances between food sources. Noisy, especially in flight; screeching calls are particularly grating and unlike any other parrot in range. Brown-throated Parakeets in early morning or late afternoon sunlight may appear to glow orange on the face and breast and are sometimes mistaken for Sun Parakeets; note Sun Parakeet’s very different calls and yellow color extending over the shoulders and back.