Hand Fed Sun Conure - Aratinga solstitialis

Noise Level & Talking Ability

Sun conures are capable of reaching a considerable volume level. They are best suited to owners living in detached housing. They mostly vocalize when their owner is out of sight, or if they are feeling ignored. Sun conures are not known for being the best talkers, but can learn a few words and short phrases. They readily pick up noises and sounds. When teaching your conure to speak, repetition and enthusiasm are the two key ingredients. 

Physical Features 

General plumage yellow; forehead, sides of head, abdomen, and lower back with variable orange tinge; under tail-coverts green with pronounced yellow tinge; median and greater upper wing-coverts as well as under tail-coverts green with yellow edging; secondary-coverts green with yellow tips; outer webs of primary-coverts blue; primaries green with blue tips; secondaries green; upper side of tail olive-green with blue tips; underside of tail and flight-feathers blackish; periophthalmic ring whitish; iris dark brown; bill blackish; feet grey.

Young birds are often quite green, especially on the back and wings. As the bird molts the green feathers grow back yellow. Some individuals become more yellow than other. It can take up to 18 months for the bird to fully achieve the amount of yellow they will. 

Pet Profile

Sun conures are highly social and make good pets when socialized often. They are energetic and enjoy training/play time. In the evening they tend to mellow out, just wanting some before-bed-snuggles. Sun conures are best suited toward people who have prior bird experience and are confident when handling mid-size parrots. 

Diet

Sun conures do best on a well-varied diet. As with any bird, fresh water must always be available. A quality pellet, like ZuPreem Natural, should be free-fed. Fresh prepared veggies, grains, herbs, etc should be offered at least 4 times a week. Fruit can be offered once or twice a week. Any fresh food items that are not eaten within 3 hours must be removed from the cage and discarded to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. Seeds and nuts can be offered in controlled amounts and as a training reward. Generally it is recommended to avoid striped sunflower and peanuts. Black sunflower and white sunflower can be given but they are high in fat, sprouting them helps to increase the nutrient density and reduce the fat content. If you have a bird that insists on eating a seed-based diet, nutritious vegetables, grains, legumes, etc should be offered as frequently as possible. Sun conures, like other Aratinga species, are at an elevated risk of vitamin A deficiency, "conure bleeding syndrome" , and many other preventable health conditions if fed a poor diet. 

Housing

Sun Conures require a medium-large cage to accommodate their long tail. Sun Conures are very active birds that need room to roam and climb in their cage. These birds do best with a wide range of materials for toys and perches. Both destructible (wood, cardboard, seagrass, etc.) and indestructible (plastic, metal, acrylic, etc.) toys should be given to maximize enrichment. Perches should vary in material (cotton/rope, wood, cement, swings, ladders, etc.) and size to promote grip strength. 

Breeding Information

Mutations: red factor, pied, blue

Wild Status

Endangered - Decreasing
Last assessed October 2016 for the IUCN Red List.