Animal-World > Birds > Conures > Sun Conure

Sun Conure

Family: Psittacidae"Oscar"Aratinga solstitialisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Becca Edmonds

   When the Sun Conure is fully mature and has all its coloring it is gorgeous, but even juveniles are extremely pretty!

Widget Photo Courtesy: David Brough

  "Widget" is an exceptional Sun Conure. He loves to do tricks with his owner and is very playful and affectionate.

   Sometimes "Widget" sleeps, or plays "dead bird" in his owners hand. He loves to hang out and he is free to fly about, but when he's ready for a break he always goes back to his cage. "Widget" is fun to be with, fun to play with and fun to look at!

For more information about the care of Conures see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Conure

Scientific Name: Aratinga solstitialis

Distribution:
   These birds are native to Guianas to northwestern Brazil.

Description:
   The Sun Conure, a small member of the parrot family, is one of the most colorful of the conures. Their nice personalities and their gorgeous coloring make them a favorite pet. There are a variety of conures, and most make excellent pets. They vary in coloring and size, the Nanday Conure, for example, is a larger conure with a black head and green body. For a smaller bird and a great pet, a conure is a great choice.

Size - Weight:
   These birds get up to 12" (30 cm).

Care and feeding:
   A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of sprouts, seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat.

   See About Conures: Housing and About Conures: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:
   They live in pairs or small groups of 10 to 20 birds. They love to play, and can be fairly destructive if not watched. They can also be rather noisy. Despite all this, they make a real fun pet and are very popular.

Activities:  Loves to climb and play. Provide lots of toys.

Thorn Photo Courtesy: Kristy "Thorn" is a real good example of color variations that conures can have within one species. He is very yellow, and this is after his very first full molt! ...Kristy

Breeding/Reproduction:
   They breed readily if they have the right size aviary. The hen lays four eggs which are incubated for about 26 days. The young fledge (leave the nest) after about 8 weeks. The nest box size should be 12" x 12" x 12".

Potential Problems:    As with most Aratinga species, this bird can be noisy.
   See About Conures: Potential Problems for information on illnesses.

Availability:
  This bird is generally available. They can usually be found at pet stores and reputable breeders.

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS

Lastest Comments on Sun Conure View all 78 comments on Sun Conure Add Your Comment

spannzer - 2011-09-08 Umm, I don't know whether to get a sun conure or a cockatiel. Can someone tell me how much both cost from a pet store? thanks. Click For Replies (7) Toby Jungle - 2011-09-08 The personlaities, cage size requirements are much different. Sun conure needs a larger cage as play a lot and a bigger bird. Cockatiel is smaller and not as active. Conure is a velcro bird and loves to play with its human, rigth side up, upside down, will learn tricks, silly and comical. Cockatiel will sit on shoulder. Conure adjusts adapts to different environments and people. Cockatiel more a one person bird. These are most of the time generalities. Sun conure from a pet store is around $300 and from a breeder is around $100. Cockatiel from a pet store is around $75.00 and from a breeder about $20.00. Not for price reasons but for health reasons, I would buy only from a breeder or from an extrmely reliable pet store. There are speciality bird stores in the US. They are selective in what breeders they buy from. They are clean and they care for the birds. They rarely have other animals in with the birds or in the same store. Once in awhile there might be a puppy but usually the litter is from the fella that owns the bird store. I would not recommend one of these chains - and you have no idea what you are purchasing from one of the chains. There are wonderful bird (exotic bird) pet stores. There are excellent breeders. Thomas Kerce - 2011-09-22 would like to the price of a sun conures. robin - 2011-10-24 I'd never buy any sun conure or cockatiel from a pet store, find a reputable breeder, pet store prices are also very high. Try to buy a hand fed and hand raised baby or very young bird of your choice, I had cockatiels, their very nice birds, but my choice is my sun conure- green cheek conures are very quiet compared to the suns, but the noise doesn't bother me. Good luck in whatever you decide. Tina - 2012-01-16 Choosing between a sun conure or a cockatiel depends on how much your willing to spend. Sun conures when purchased from a pet store can range in price from 300.00 to 500.00 and cockatiels range anywhere from 80.00 to a little over 100.00. I have had both and they both are uniquie in their own way. Both can learn to talk with a lots of encouragement. My conure blows kisses and says I love you. With both birds you must hold them a lot as infants otherwise they'll grow up and you'll never be able to hold them cause you won't be able to catch them. Charlie Roche - 2012-01-16 Cocatiels and Conures are very different in personality. I would describe the cockatiel as a bird that says 'I love me and you best love me and do as your told or I'll get you cuz I am KING' and a conure says 'I love you and I will always love you and I know you screw things u p sometimes cuz you're just a human but I will teach you?' Conures are velcro birds and will fly whever to be near you. I have had several and all were 1000% housebroken returning to cage or perch to go to the bathroom - which is great. Did I TRAIN them to do this NO - they just start to return back to their cage to go potty in the same spot consistently about 1 year old - like a cat to kitty litter. All my conures got along with everyone in the home and strangers once they knew them. I would definitely get a conure from a breeder ONLY and they would run about $100.00. There are also many types of conures and the green cheek, red fronted etc are also exceleent excellent companions. Jaz - 2012-01-30 Where can you buy a sun conure for $100.00? I would want to buy one at that affordable price. I checked around and the prices ranges from $300-$450. Charlie Roche - 2012-01-31 Sun conures purchased directly from a breeder usually run between $75.00 and max $150.00 depending on age, hand feeding and breeder. Pet stores have to wean them and make a profit etc and they charge more. Unless it is an extremely high quality bird pet store, I would never buy a bird from them. Certainly not a chain. There are also other types of cpnures and although the looks is different the personalities of all are great. I have queens and love them. I had green checks - great. Reply

Diane Swanstrom - 2005-12-31 Hi everyone who told your story about the sun conure. We are getting a baby "Abby" soon. First bird and cannot wait. We also have an Old English Sheep Dog who is very gentle with all our animals. Thanks Di Click For Replies (3) Diane - 2010-08-08 Update on Abby. She calls the dog with "Murphy come here" and "Murphy's here", barks, kisses when she wants to sleep and wake up. Abby says "Hello" when the phone rings. Asks "whats up" when you walk by and makes the noise of the internet dial up perfect. She is very loud and a wonderful joy. Diane Swanstrom donALD GREGORY - 2010-12-23 Don't mix bird with dog. Diane - 2012-01-07 Abby the sun conure is doing great. Thanks for you responses. Speaks more then ever and the dog is wonderful with her. She is a watch bird especially when a deer or horse is not supposed to be at the patio door. Reply

rande wood - 2012-01-02 Hello. I have a beautiful three year old male conure, named Baby. I completely adore him but am at a loss of what to do about his biting problem. He only likes/loves me and my 78 year-old mother and bites everyone else if he gets a chance. Recently, he has been biting me. Today he bit me on my face. I am thinking that I have spoiled him. I cook him food twice a day and have pellets and snacks available for him daily. If I am not giving him my undivided attention, he bites me. I am away, at work, ten hours a day and five days a week however, my mother keeps him when I am at work. Baby does not bite my mother. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I am so sad about this and don't know what to do. Thanks, Rande. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2012-01-02 I doubt you have spoiled him - too much and if you have - so be it. You little fella is going into puberty at that age. Conures are great with everyone - everyone that is a part of THEIR FAMILY. If there was you and your mom and 5 children, the conure would be great with all. If you took Baby everywhere you went and introduced him from a young age to ALL PEOPLE, then chances are he would be good with all people. I am going to assume you have a male as a male can get protective/aggressive during puberty. Never fear it goes away. He will try and make sure that all others are away from you. He is saying 'hey you belong to me'. It's close to that time of year they would normally be picking their mates now and breeding season would sart in the spring. If they can't bite what is making them aggravated or jealous - they will frequently displace and bite the person they love. Pain in the rear but true. First - he will probably outgrow it but you should help him along. They can not bite if you hold their beak closed and say a big 'NO' that is essentially what their mate would be doing. I had one female that picked up a rawhide doggy bone and hit her mate in the head with it. Hysterical. You need to stop the biting. Big 'NO' If he is on your arm and tries to bite, rotate your arm and 'NO' as they can't keep balance and bite at the same time. Big noise - paper slammed on table and 'NO' A trainer told me to yell 'Jail' and put the bird in the bath tub (no water) and turn out the lights and close the door and count to 60. I thought she was nuts (honest) but I did it. The third time I yelled 'Jail' my little guy just shook like a dog throwing off water but he did not bite again. The idea is to STOP IT but gently and I think just holding the beak and 'NO' should work. Then give him a kiss on the beak or top of the head and a 'Luv you' Reply

Giovanni Giustino - 2011-07-13 Hi, I have a sun conure, he is 4 mounths old. I would take a Green African also but I am afraid that the conure will be jealous and change his affection for me. What do you think? Click For Replies (7) Charlie Roche - 2011-07-13 You mean an African Grey? A conure isn't a teritorial or protective bird. He is as good natured as they come. The more the merrier. He is going to love you no matter what. It is just their nature. He is not going to be jealous. As far as they are concerned, they just think the world is for them to play with. He will want you attention. I have a conure now and hubby has a grey. They are fine. My conure is in love with my Macaw and does everything to break the Macaw out of the cage. I don't know how but I frequently find my conure and my Macaw sitting next to each other in the Macaws cage in the morning. It is a houseful but the conure loves all. The grey only loves hubby. Greys demand your attention and conures will trick you into it. The grey rules and the conure will allow it. My conure tries very hard to talk to the grey and mimic the grey. Also, your conure is young. A young grey - all will be fine. They don't know. They just love their human. Of course conures love all and grey will probably only love you. Giovanni Giustino - 2011-07-13 Thanks for your early answer, Do you remenber I asked you about travelling with my sun conure, you answered that won't be problem for 100 miles, but I mean 1000 miles by car... Are you sure that I can bring Conny with me? Thanks Charlie Roche - 2011-07-14 I know you aksed the quetion but somehow it got lost on me. Traveling the 1000 miles with your conure will be just fine. It is best to have a cage and also a carrier. When you leave the car, it is best to take your little guy with you in a carrier. It can get way too hot in a car - quickly especially in the summer. Your conure can being the cage while driving. If he is easy going, he can be on a car seat perch as well instead of a cage, You need to be careful. Frined of mine stopped at a car wash and the bird flew into the car wash. All was wel but sure soaked the bird and it could have been hurt. Toll booths etc be careful. sue - 2011-07-17 When being affectionate take him away from the other birds view so he will not become jealous. Giovanni Giustino - 2011-07-25 He is already affectionate and jealous, because when sees some other bird on TV he try to attack them.. Mandy - 2011-11-19 Sun Conures, are (or maybe its just mine) sooooooooooooo protective and jealous, if my husband , friends, son, anyone tries to come near me when I have him on my neck, hand , shirt or hand he freaks out and tries to bite! So I would think that, if you got another bird , yes your conure might get jealous, but remember, all birds are different, just like people. It all depends on your bird. Tesha - 2011-12-16 We have a sun conure named Skittles that is spoiled to no end, he even sleeps with us, and he is very, very jealous and protective. Not when it comes to the household, but when our oldest son comes over, they have a love hate relationship. I wont get his wings clipped because I have potty trained him, so those two go running and flying about the house. We tease our son, saying he is afraid of one ounce of an eight ounce bird. Answer to your question, mine is jealous. Since they are all different, before you pay for the African grey, ask them if the two birds have a problem with each other, if you can bring it back. Reply

fanie - 2011-07-07 Hi Our sunconure, Twiggy, sleeps under the newspaper we put in the bottom of his cage at night. It is his/her first winter and we were wondering if this is what the sunconure usually does. Although we keep the environment warm at night. thanks Fanie Click For Replies (3) Charlie Roche - 2011-07-08 I think it is pretty normal behavior for a conure. I got mine one of those birdie buddies (not sure of name) but it is soft fabric that ties to the side of the cage and they snuggle up to it. Your little one isn't cold, they hide or sleep in stange places. Conures are so much fun and a lot of that is cuz they are so silly. Anonymous - 2011-09-01 We have a hanging sleeping bag in our cage for our sun conure. It seems to me like he needs something covering him while he sleeps. He probably isn't comfortable sleeping and needs covering. Anonymous - 2011-11-29 They're raised surrounded shoulder to shoulder by siblings and covered with parents. As they mature, they still prefer that covered, secure sensation when it's sleep time. Reply

John - 2011-06-20 Hi, I need your help! I have a sun conure since 20 days, his name is Connie. He is very sweet and lovely. I love him like a son... The problem is that when it is time to sleep, he doesn't want sleep in the cage but under my hands in the nest box. He is almost 4 months old... Do you think that this habit he has is due of age? Will he loose this habit? Thanks Click For Replies (11) Charlie Roche - 2011-06-21 Conures are pretty much known for being velcro birds. They like to be with you and on you. Birds are also quite intelligent and they have the ability to train their humans quite well. Yours has trained you to essentially rock him to sleep (in a way). He will be fine sleeping in his cage by himself. He is a baby (just 4 months) and still just venturing out very little on his own. Mine breaks out of his cage and gets in my bed every shot he gets ---He will only lose the habit if his human doesn't do it. Charlie Roche - 2011-06-22 Conures are extremely extremely expressive. Some can say a few words (in human language) but they can say many words in their own language and believe it or not you will learn theirs. They are expressive and make their wants/likes and dislikes known at an early age and it only gets better. Good luck and enjoy. John - 2011-06-21 Thanks for fast reply, I will try to get him to sleep into his cage when will grow. I have another question, is it normal to talk already pretty good ? He says lots of word that learns in twenty days.... and usually is jumbery on lots of incomprehnsible phrases. John - 2011-06-25 Hi, Connie started to nip my fingers two days ago. I'm not understanding why he changed this way. Charlie Roche - 2011-06-25 Hi John, This isn't the right word but I call it teething. The baby bird gets to be about 4 - 6 months old and for whatever reason they start to chew on your fingers, ears, nose etc. It is annoying but doesn't really hurt. Take his beak between your thumb and index finger when he does this and say "NO" or "NO hurt DADDY" or whatever you choose but in a stern tone. It is similar to a puppy needing to teeth on a dog bone. It does stop. It is not biting. Guys ears - I have absolutely no idea why birds are so totally facinated with mens ears but they are. They stick their little tongue in your ear, they sorta chew on your ear. They are not biting or really even chewing. I think they believe they are preeening you. Womens ears are normally covered by their hair but guys ears are usually not. Again, if it bothers you, grab his beak and tell him "NO" but the ear thing has always appeared affectioneete to me when I see my birds doing it to fellas. They have never hurt any fella but it does look sorta funny to see my Hyacinth with her tongue in some mans ear. Again, to stop it - grab the beak and a strong "NO" but it is not a bite - it is a growing stage. They are learning and you need to teach them what is acceptable or unacceptable behavior to you. John - 2011-06-26 Ok I will try so, now I have a question... I have to go on vacation. I'm you think that is good for Connie to come with me or to get him in a staying into the car for so much time? S Bolivar - 2011-07-15 I have a sun conure that is around 12 years old, and I have her sleep with me at night. I am not a restless sleeper, so she just cuddles down in my PJs and sleeps quietly through the night. If I happen to wake and roll, she just walks with the roll of my body and goes right back to sleep as I do. Her name is Rainbow. Giovanni Giustino - 2011-07-25 Are you not scared to tread on her while you are sleeping? I would sleep with Conny in my bed but I'm scared of that. Leila - 2011-08-10 The conure sleeping in bed with you sounds wonderful - but doesnt it mess? Just curious to know. Giovanni Giustino - 2011-09-08 my not, he never dump on the bed or sofa, just on the floor or into her cage rhi - 2011-09-14 Hi, I used to have a beautiful sunny conure, he was amazingly lovely, I kept him as a free bird. He had his own little bed, (it was actually a sofa he claimed), in my bedroom, and yes sometimes he would come over and I'd wake up with him snoozing on my chest, or preening my hair. It was wonderful for both of us, I loved when he was close to me, just as he loved being close to me, However, it saddens me deeply to say the worst thing that could have happened, did happen. Please please please do not have your bird sleep with you or free to visit you in the night, or morning when you are asleep. You dont really know that it is safe - they are so small and if you roll over too quick for it to make a noise or move you have lost your companion forever. Reply

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