The Sun Conure
By John C. Tyson

Active and colorful, sun conures make excellent pets. They are easy to maintain, and can entertain their owners and themselves for hours. The sun conure is easily bred in captivity. These wonderful little birds tame easily, can learn to speak several words and are known for their engaging personalities.

Like A Sunset

A flock of birds flying across an evening horizon was once said to have resembled a beautiful sunset. Hence, the name sun conure was assigned to the species. Their body color possesses a deep yellow-orange glow with a distinct resemblance to gold. Their amazingly brilliant blend of yellow, orange, red, blue and green colors means they outshine most other birds in the looks department.

Sun conures are approximately 12 inches in length. They live as long as 15 years and are hardy and reliable breeders. As a pet, the sun conure possesses a multifaceted personality that will delight the experienced bird owner and pique the curiosity of the inexperienced nonbird person. They can best be described as playful, inquisitive, active and curious. They love attention and closeness from their owners.

A young sun conure is mostly olive green in color. At around 6 months, the plumage slowly turns to a beautiful yellow-orange coloration. By the end of their first year, they have their full color. Primary flights on the sun conure are dark blue, and the tail is green with a blue tip. The coverts are spotted with an olive green color. Their beaks and feet are black, and the eyes are gray.

The sun conure, Aratinga solstitialis solstitialis, is native to the northeast coast of South America. The open forest and savannah regions of Brazil, Guyana and Eastern Venezuela are the typical environments of this brilliantly colored conure.

Basic Care

The sun conure is easy to maintain. Their living quarters can occupy a small, busy area in the family home. A cage measuring 20 inches wide by 20 inches long by 24 inches high is adequate for a single bird and should be placed in a location away from drafts from windows, doors, and heating and air ducts. It is best to choose a cage with perches that are one-half inch in diameter and bars spaced three-quarters to one inch apart so the conures do not get their heads stuck between the bars or damage tail feathers. Most traditional cages come with two to four round perches in them which can be replaced with natural tree branches. The branches encourage chewing and peeling of the bark and also provide a more textured natural surface on which the bird can climb. They are also easily replaced.

A conure diet is not always available in retail stores. A premium vitaminized cockatiel mix may be offered sparingly. However, I do not recommend feeding solely a seed diet. Birds can be like young children in that they will pick out the portion of their meal (in this case, the seeds) they like best and leave the rest. There are several very good pelleted diets available. These feature a completely balanced diet in every bite and should be kept available in the cage in a separate feeding container at all times. All exotic birds, regardless of size or species, need and appreciate variety in their diet. They love fruits such as grapes, apples, oranges and melons, and a variety of vegetables such as carrots, corn, peas and broccoli. Numerous leafy vegetables can be offered as extras in their daily diet. Perishable fruits and vegetables can be offered in a separate food dish so they can be easily disposed of to prevent spoilage. Diced hard-boiled eggs with the shell and whole-grain cereals and wheat bread are also excellent items to add to their diet. Many bird owners will offer their bird much of what is prepared for the family meal that night. As a general rule of thumb, if it is good for you, it is probably good for your bird. But if ever in doubt, be sure to check with an avian veterinarian.

Seeds may be offered as a special treat. Hook-billed birds love to explore items with their beak and tongue, and they are naturals at holding and cracking seeds and nuts. I feel there is a psychological benefit for a bird to be able to engage in an activity. Seeds can serve a dual purpose for both mental well-being and as a training aid.

Toys

Sun conures can entertain themselves and you for hours. Hanging toys are favorites for this species. They love to climb and hang. Rope toys, chain toys, and toys with hoops or rings are great. Small pieces of cardboard or toilet paper rolls make good chew items in the cage. Sun conures are chewers, and these items will help maintain a healthy beak and also save on perches.

Cages are a necessary means to confine and control your bird during your absence. Otherwise, time out of the cage is extremely important. Bonding, training and physical and mental health are affected by cage confinement. When out of the cage, properly trimmed wings can be a life-saving practice for your pet. Mirrors, open windows, doors and reflective surfaces can spell disaster for a free-flying bird in the house. Dangers in the kitchen such as hot stoves and hot soapy sinks are also potential hazards to an untrimmed bird. Wing trimming does not hurt a bird and is much like trimming toe nails or cutting hair. The feathers will be molted and grow back in three to four months, so the process will need to be repeated. If you don't know how or prefer not to trim your own bird, many pet shops and veterinarians offer this service.

Breeding

Sun conures are easily bred in captivity. They are capable of breeding around 2 years of age, although the first clutch is not always fertile. Males and females are not sexually dimorphic and hence, look alike. If you are purchasing a pair for breeding purposes, they should be DNA or surgically sexed. Once you've established that you have a pair of the proper breeding age, a nesting area can be set up within their existing cage. A nesting box the same size you would use for cockatiels should be adequate: approximately 8 inches by 8 inches by 12 inches. Clutches usually consist of four to five eggs with an incubation period of 23 days. The chicks can easily be hand-fed, assuming you have had experience in doing so.

Traits

Sun conures are wonderful little birds. They tame and bond quickly with their owner, can learn to speak numerous words with very good clarity, and have extremely comical personalities. If they see or hear something out of the ordinary, they have been known to behave like the family watchdog, alerting the family with their shrieking.

Their only real drawback is a loud and shrill voice. In pairs or groups, the vocalization is much more concentrated and continuous. An individual pet is usually more manageable and tolerable for most households. Hand-fed birds require a lot of attention. Reasonable noise levels can be maintained when you provide plenty of positive attention and playtime for your conure. Behavior problems can be prevented by positive reinforcement, gentle guidance and proper training from early in their lives.  

The sun conure is quite common and easy to find throughout the United States. For a small bird, their price may appear somewhat high. You can expect to pay anywhere from $350 to $600 for a hand-fed baby conure. Work with a reputable breeder or retailer in acquiring your pet. Hold the bird and examine it, find out what your supplier is feeding the bird, and seek additional advice in basic care and training.

The sun conure makes an excellent pet for most anyone. Sun conures are extremely active, colorful and playful with a feisty, yet alluring personality. It is certainly a bird worth investigating if you are looking for a new feathered friend.