NATURAL HABITAT

Sun conures have a relatively small natural range. They're mainly found in the northernmost point of Brazil and in Guyana, South America, although some sources also report them from parts of Suriname, French Guiana, and possibly Venezuela.

Wild birds are found in forested regions, ranging from dry to seasonally flooded forests. The small flocks rarely seem to leave the deep jungle and have a particular preference for hilly and mountainous terrain up to 1.400m in elevation. Nesting is usually done in the hollows of the Mauritia flexuosa palm tree.

SUN CONURE INTELLIGENCE & PERSONALITY

Sun conures aren't just beautiful to look at; they're also appreciated by parrot enthusiasts for their big personalities. These conures are incredibly charismatic! They're intelligent and quick learners, generally very responsive to training and eager to pick up new tricks and commands. All this does mean conure owners need to stay on top of training in order to channel their birds' smart brains productively. Without proper socialization, sun conures can become nippy or pick up other undesired behaviours.

Like other parrots, conures are highly social beings. Whether their flock consists of humans or other conures, they thrive on companionship and will wither if their social needs aren't met. You can expect a well-socialized sun conure to constantly want to spend time with you, not necessarily asking for cuddles but certainly riding around on your shoulder and always staying aware of what you're doing around the house.

As should be clear from the above, sun conures (and parrots in general, for that matter) are not low-maintenance pets. They can make incredibly rewarding and loving pets for the right owner, but it's important to keep in mind that without constant mental stimulation and social interaction, they go haywire. Issues like excessive vocalization, aggression, and even feather plucking can be the result. Preventing boredom in your bird is one of the most important parts of being a conure owner. If you work a regular full-time job, you'll have to consider getting two birds.

NOISE LEVEL & TALKING ABILITY

If you're thinking of adding a sun conure to your family, it's crucial to consider their noise level. Parrots in general are not quiet beings by any means, and conures of the Aratinga family take the typical psittacine noisiness to a whole new level. They need to communicate with their flockmates over long distances in the wild, which has caused them to evolve very shrill voices. Their flock calls, short squawks meant to convey their location to other conures, are particularly piercing.

You can expect a pet conure to spend much of the day chirping, chattering, and imitating household noises. Loud squawks are common during dawn, dusk, and whenever the bird is excited or wants something from its human flock (like around feeding time).

Although they have the capacity for mimicry just like most other parrots, these conures not known to be great talkers. Their voices are raspy and their vocabularies tend to stay limited, but with some training, they can learn to imitate short tunes or simple words like their name. Constant repetition, plus treats to reward a job well done, are the keys to getting your conure to try its hand at human speech or whistles.

Tip: If you like Aratinga conures but are worried about the sun conure's noise level, you could consider a dusky conure (Aratinga weddellii) instead. Although these green birds are still loud, we'd classify them as "medium" noisy rather than "high".

FEEDING & NUTRITION

Wild sun conures feed on a variety of ripe and unripe fruits, as well as seeds and nuts, flowers and buds, legumes, and even insects. With our domestic birds, we should always do our best to offer a diet that's just as varied as what they'd eat in the wild. This helps ensure they get all those precious micronutrients.

What we shouldn't do, however, is feed them as much as wild birds eat: our feathered friends don't exactly use as many calories on a daily basis as their wild counterparts do while flying around searching for their next meal.

A good conure diet can consist, among other things, of:

• A high-quality pellet food that doesn't contain added sugars as a staple. Avoid a seed-based diet.
• Plenty of veggies like broccoli, leafy greens, peas, carrots and more.
• The occasional fruit: although wild sun conures eat a lot of fruit, it's too high in sugar to feed large amounts of it to our domestic parrots.
• A high-quality seed mix, preferably without addictive sunflower seeds.
• Fresh sprouted seeds, which you can do yourself using a sprouting mix.
• Foraged foods from low-pollution areas without pesticides: garden weeds (dandelion leaves, clover), fresh flowers (chrysanthemum, daisies) and fresh grasses.
• Extra: cooked grains like black rice, quinoa, whole wheat pasta, buckwheat, oats, etc.

Don't forget to also offer a mineral block and multiple sources of fresh water.

HOUSING FOR YOUR SUN CONURE

Although as far as parrots go, sun conures are by no means the largest, they do need plenty of space to thrive. These active birds need to be able to stretch their wings, move around, and play to keep both their physical and mental health in order. Obesity and boredom are common issues in pet parrots, and the right cage set-up can play a large role in preventing both.

Firstly, consider cage size. If you're not planning on letting your bird out of its cage for at least a few hours a day, you'll have to set up a full-sized aviary. Otherwise, a sturdy cage that's at least 30" wide (preferably larger) should work. Ensure the bars are no more than ¾ inch apart to prevent your bird from attempting to squeeze through or getting stuck. Place the cage in an area that gets plenty of human traffic but is free of drafts (hallways) or potentially harmful fumes (kitchen). The living room is usually ideal.

Your conure’s home should be equipped with a variety of natural wood perches. It should also have access to a range of toys for small to medium-sized parrots. Toys that challenge them mentally, like foraging toys that hide treats, work particularly well in keeping your bird active and engaged. Chew toys, which help manage their natural chewing instinct and keep their beaks healthy, also make a great choice. Rotate toys regularly to keep your bird interested, removing any that are too damaged.

Because your conure should spend as much time as possible outside of its cage, the room it's in should be fully parrot-proofed. Keep doors and windows closed! Consider providing a dedicated play area where your conure can safely explore and interact with the family under supervision like a cage-top play stands with toys and perches.

A clean cage is important. Clean food and drink bowls daily, change the cage liner regularly and wash the cage weekly. You might be surprised at how much waste such a small bird produces!

FEATHER PLUCKING

Feather plucking is a relatively common issue in sun parrots, usually the result various underlying causes such as stress, boredom, or health problems. Sun conures are no exception in this. As we've already mentioned, these birds are highly intelligent and social, meaning they need constant mental stimulation and social interaction. They might resort to plucking their feathers as a way to cope with their environment if they don't get what they need.

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to feather plucking, as the behaviour appears to be addictive, and it's hard to stop a parrot once it starts. Ensure your conure's cage is large enough and filled with interactive toys, different perches, and other interesting items. Hang out with your bird as much as you can and dedicate some daily time to training sessions to keep that big brain busy.

If your conure does start picking at its own feathers, underlying health issues could be the culprit. It’s important to consult with an avian vet to rule out possibilities like skin infections, allergies, or nutritional deficiencies. The vet might recommend dietary changes, supplements, or other specific treatments depending on the diagnosis.

FACTS

• Unfortunately, sun conures are considered threatened in the wild. The IUCN Red List classifies Aratinga solstitialis as an Endangered species, noting that the already small wild population is under severe pressure from trapping for the pet trade. Habitat loss is also a serious problem.
• "Sun conure" isn't just this species' common name. Its scientific name, solstitialis, actually means "of the summer solstice", a reference to its sunny yellow plumage.
• Sun conures are very closely related to three other species in the genus Aratinga: the jandaya conure (A. jandaya), golden-capped conure (A. auricapillus), and sulphur-breasted conure (A. maculata). It can interbreed with these; a captive hybrid of janday and sun conures, often called the "sunday" conure, is relatively common.
• Young sun conures that haven't gone through their first moult yet are mostly green, with a golden head.
• It's not really possible to visually tell the difference between male and female sun conures; a DNA test is a more definite way to figure out whether your bird is a boy or a girl.

CONCLUSION

The sun conure is one of the most colourful parrots around. Its playful nature can make this species a great addition to active families, but keep in mind this conure's ability to produce an impressive amount of noise for such a small creature.

To view other Parrot Profiles & Care Guides, visit our Alphabetical list of Parrot Fact Sheets by visiting: https://parrotessentials.co.uk/blog/parrot-profiles-care-guides