Animal-World > Pet Birds > Conures > Sun Conure

Sun Conure

Family: Psittacidae

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Oscar Aratinga solstitialis Photo © 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

   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

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.

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Latest Comments
I think that a sun conure can be a big responsibility, but they're fun. I have 1, it's a boy named katy and it's also great for children above 10 years of age. christine 2009-06-27
My sun conure, charlie is just stunning. He has a very playul personality and loves mummy more than daddy! He dances and clicks along to music and rolls on his back when he wants to play fight. He did have a cockatiel living with him who died, so we are now considering getting another playmate. Unsure how he'll take to that because he's such a mummy's boy and doesn't like to share! However we are struggling to get his screaming under control, especially now we are expecting a baby! But I wouldn't give him up for the world. Claire 2009-05-05
Hi all. Well I to just bought a sun conure, he's 1 1/2 yrs of age. His last owner couldn't kept him any more. I took him to the vet to be tested and everything turned out great, his weight was 120 grams. And yes, had an dna test done, he's a boy all right :0). His name is tequila, he's so cute. I only had him 3 weeks and already he shower's with me:) and he share my meals. He has a very huge parrot cage with lots of toys. I leave his cage open all day. He love to nap with me, lol, under the covers he goes. He is trying to talk right now, he just moves his little mouth. He is usually very quiet, but let me tell ya he can be very loud if he wants, and yes he the best guard dog I every had, lol. I have a keyless entrance and when he hears you touching it he yell out very loud. You can here him from the back of the house, lol. GOD I LOVE THIS LITTLE BOY! He still sometimes bites but he tries to be gentle unless he's mad, then it hurts, but he give me the biggest kisses ever OMG! I am in love with my new little bird and, memee my 15 year cat gets along great with tequila. It is scared of the bird though I think because tequila is nothing he has every seen before. But memee is a good cat. In his life he lived with a dalmation and a bearded dragon. They both pasted last year. The dog was 13yrs and the dragon was 7yrs, so now he got a parrot for a friend, lol. God bless all these little conures :). Darlene 2009-04-08
A friend recently gave my wife the present of a young but very beautiful Sun Conure, we named him Popeye, my first thoughts were, "gee, that's all we need..a parrot to look after'....he's 6 months old now and I wouldn't part with him for all the tea in China, he's an amazing character. friendly, sociable..heck he evens sleeps with my wife, fights with my toes on the bed in the morning and is just a huge character, he's also a guard-parrot with a built in clock...he knows my wife gets home at 4pm every day...and shouts loudly for her just as she's ready to come thru' the door. He isn't talking much yet...well in his own language he is...but we're persisting with him. Being a dog man...I never thought I'd love a parrot so much neil 2008-12-22
I purchased two newly weened sunnys and they are wonderful. I could not choose between the two. Since they were the only ones left I got them both. They are really playful and if one makes a particular sound the other is sure to follow. They are extremely affectionate toward me and each other but at times there seems to be a bit of jealousy when one is getting more attention over the other but it is quickly dispelled. They will tumble over the top of one another when I am playing with them on the floor or bed and they will scratch and pick at one anothers feathers so gently that it makes them puff up. They have included me in this ritual. They pick through my hair as if it were feathers. They will roll over on their backs and allow me to stroke them with a finger during all of this. I really enjoy their company and it can be a really good stress reliever. jim 2008-12-22
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
I have a lovely sunny which my mother and stepdad bought me when I graduated high school eight months ago. His name is Apollo after the greek and roman sun god. I find him a better companion bird than lovebirds. He stays in my appartment in nyc with me and my two friends, one of which has a nanday conure. They both like a varied diet of fruits, veggies, and seeds. They are very nice birds that already, though unusually for conures, have picked up several words. This site was a good help to us both. It's very funny because I think within several years we could have hybrid conure babies since mine is a male and my friends is female. They like to dance and fly around the apartment. We have had only one noise complaint and now they don't squawk very loud any more. They like to steal raisins and drink lemonade sometimes. These birds are very beautiful, it's like having the hawaian sun rise in my house in new york city. They are very nice birds and somewhere apollo started to say "silvers good enough for me". Wherever he picked this up I have no clue, but it's kinda cute. Thanks for all your help. anthony 2009-02-22
After almost 9 months, I realized that my local pet store sold me a Jenday instead of a Sun. There does not seem to be any difference other than the coloring and I did not find out the difference until I was looking thru a pet products book and saw my bird in one of the photos. Conner (not very original) is the sweetest, noisiest, and most beautiful bird I have ever had. He lives in perfect harmony with my two cockatiels, one of which I have had for 15 years. They all love flying around the screened-in patio area for hours at a time. I think this space and the comments of the other bird lovers is great for all of us. Thanks, Chip Chip Melber 2009-01-15
i just have to say that i am so greatful that i found this place, i have the most wonderful sun conure and his name is HOMIE!!! YEA i know!! lol but he is the love of all our lives. in a day he took to the kids and o how he loves his mamma! he rolls over and lays down with me when its time to go to sleep, but his lil goffy self wants to stick his foot in my mouth for some strange reason like its comforting to him. he will do flips and summersalts and to top it off plays catch with our dog. they run the ball back and forth to each other. its the neatest thing to see, i guess i am a proud momma of homie and wanted to share! i love him and cant wait to come back to learn more about the conures lyric 2005-11-04

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Author: Clarice Brough, CAS