Aratinga maculata
The Sulphur-breasted Parakeet, *Aratinga maculata*, is a striking member of the parrot family, Psittacidae, specifically within the genus *Aratinga*. Measuring approximately 21-23 cm (8-9 inches) in length and weighing 80-90 grams, its plumage is a vibrant tapestry dominated by a bright green back and wings. A key distinguishing feature is its brilliant sulphur-yellow breast and belly, contrasting with the green, along with a less extensive orange wash around the ears and cheeks compared to i...
This parakeet inhabits tropical and subtropical lowland rainforests, savanna woodlands, and gallery forests, often favoring forest edges and occasionally disturbed secondary growth, typically below 500 meters in elevation.
Primarily frugivorous, their diet consists of various fruits, berries, and seeds, supplemented by flowers, buds, and nuts, which they consume by deftly manipulating items with their strong beaks and feet.
The Sulphur-breasted Parakeet is a highly social and diurnal species, typically found in large, noisy flocks that can number in the dozens, sometimes hundreds, outside of the breeding season, roosting communally in large trees. Foraging involves acrobatic climbing and clinging to branches as they...
The Sulphur-breasted Parakeet is a resident species primarily found in the lowlands of the Amazon Basin in South America. Its core breeding and year-round range extends across vast areas of northern Brazil, particularly within the states of Pará and Amazonas, and western Pará. The distribution al...
Least Concern
- The Sulphur-breasted Parakeet was once considered the same species as the famous Sun Parakeet (*Aratinga solstitialis*) until recent genetic and morphological studies confirmed its distinct species status. - Unlike its endangered relative, the Sun Parakeet, *Aratinga maculata*'s population is c...