Sun Conure
Species group: Conures
Scientific name: Aratinga solstitialis
Appearance
Details: The Sun Conure is a small colorful parrot. This bird has golden yellow colored feathers down its back and wings. As an adult Sun Conures have brilliant shades of orange on its chest and head. Young Sun Conures will have a mottled olive green coloration.
Weight: 120 - 130 grams
Average size: 30 centimeters
Care
Lifespan: 20 - 30 years
Diet: As with most parrots, an all seed diet does not provide enough nutrition and leads to serious and debilitating health problems. A healthy daily diet consists of a formulated pellet and a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits. Seeds and whole nuts should be reserved for training treat and foraging. They may also be fed cooked food from time to time like whole grain rice, beans, and chicken.
Housing: A good minimum sized primary cage for a single conure would be 24”w x 24”d x 24”h with no more than ¾” bar spacing. The cage should be outfitted with several different perches and toys. They should also have a play gym with several more toys so they can spend time away from their cage regularly. This not only provides added stimulation it will reduce cage aggression. Cleaning the food and water bowls, cage, and play areas every day are an essential part of basic care that helps to keep your bird healthy. Using newspaper on the bottom of the cage and play areas makes daily clean up quick and easy to do.
Natural history
The Sun Conure’s range is restricted to small areas of the lower Amazon River basin in Brazil and parts of southeast Venezuela. They prefer open woodland or scrubland areas. Their natural diet is reported to consist of legumes, fruits, flowers, and more specifically red cacti fruits and Malpighia berries.
Behavior/ Temperament
The Sun Conure is a small-sized bird with a loving and friendly nature. Possessing a curious temperament, the Sun Conure is easy to train. This bird is naturally inquisitive and love attention. Of all the conures, Sun Conures are said to be the most rambunctious, without lots of good wood toys to chew, foraging toys, and training sessions they may develop challenging behaviors. The bird can be quite talkative and is a good imitator of sounds such as the ringing of an alarm clock. As Conures can be quite loud, they are generally not considered suitable for apartment/flat living.
