Sun Conures or Sun Parakeets
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The Sun Conure, also known as Sun Parakeet (Aratinga solstitialis), is a member of the parrot family (Psittacidae).
It is native to the north-eastern coastal forests of South America.
Description:
The average weight for a Sun Conure is approximately 100g-120g. Their length is approximately 305mm from head to tail.
The suns are a beautiful red/orange/yellow over most of the bird. The wings have a slight green on the wings. The younger birds are more green, and their brighter colors appear after several molts. As with all conures, the Sun has the white skin patch around the eye. They can live for 25 to 30 years.
Personality:
The Sun Conure is noted for its loud squawking compared to its relatively small size. The bird is capable of mimicking humans but not as well as some larger parrots. This being said, there are some amongst them that are very capable talkers.
This is what Ellen Musgrove, from PA, says about her sun conure Princess, featured to the right::
My sun conure is 18 months old and can VERY verbally speak BRAT, OUT, LUV and MINE, EAT.
They are especially popular as pets because of their fun personality and bright coloration. Due to their inquisitive temperament, they demand a great deal of attention from their owners, and can sometimes be loud. Like many parrots, they are high-grade chewers and require toys and treats to chew on.
They are very cuddly birds and like to climb in and under things. They love sleeping in a bird tent, although they usually chew on it and will destroy it in a few months. In nature, they spend considerable time "customizing" their nesting sites with their beak -- this is natural behavior and the urge of chewing on their bird tent or nest box is an innate need that is natural and shouldn't be discouraged. Some owners who are fed up with buying new tents every six months or so, prefer to provide a nesting box.
The below photos show very well the lovely personality of this little and colorful parrot.
Potential Problems:
As with many Conure species, the Sun Conure has a reputation for being noisy. Their high-pitched screech can be annoying. They can get nippy.
Sexing:
Undeterminable by appearance. However, you can take a guess by looking at the shape of the bird's head. Females have a rounder and smaller head than the male. The male's head is squarer, with a flatter forehead.
Care and Feeding:
Conures love to climb and play and need to be provided with a cage that allows them to move around freely and toys to entertain themselves with. Please refer to the following websites for information:- Optimal nutrition to keep your bird healthy
- Housing your bird
- Caring for your companion bird
Breeding / Reproduction:
They are monomorphic and reach sexual maturity at one or two years of age. The cock usually sits on or near the nesting box.
These conures are fairly easy to breed. Below are the dimensions of nesting boxes usually used for these conures. However, the dimensions can vary widely, as they are influenced by the owner's and the birds' preferences. The preferences of the breeding birds can also be influenced by the size and type of nest-box / log in which the bird was hatched and reared.
If space allows, offering a choice of sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, and placed in various locations within the aviary, can allow the parent birds to make their own choice. Once a pair has chosen a specific nest-box/log and been successful in it, offer that one to them each breeding season. Try and keep that one for their exclusive use. Once a pair has chosen its log or nest-box, the other ones can generally be removed. If the "spare" boxes are to be removed and moved to another flight, ensure the log / nest-box is cleaned to ensure the receptacle has the minimal contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens.
Log / Nest-box:
- Marcy Covault from Feathered Companions Aviary suggests using a deeper box, either a bootbox or a vertical grandfather box (18" - 24" deep). Some conures do accept cockatiel-sized boxes, but using a deeper box will reduce the conures' tendency to remove the shavings and lay their eggs on the bare wooden base.
- Diameter of entrance hole approx. 70 - 80 mm (or approx. 3 inches)
- Inspection hole: Square or round) 100 mm (or approx 4 inches)
- A Removable top / lid can be a useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
- Location and height of log / nest-box = in a sheltered part of the aviary and at about 1.5 - 1.8 metres height, but not too close to the roof to cause heat problems in the hotter months
- Angle of log or nest box = 45 degrees through to vertical. Most boxes are vertical.
- Nesting log / nest-box material: Decomposed non-toxic saw dust, wood shavings or other suitable material/s.
- Incubation: Hen / cock / both share in incubating the eggs.
Nest inspection is generally not tolerated. If nest inspection is necessary, wait till both parents have left the nest. They can be aggressive and protective of the nest area when breeding.
For additional breeding-related information, please visit this website.
(Adapted from Source: Wikipedia.org)
Genus: Scientific: Aratinga ... English: Conures ... Dutch: Wigstaartparkieten ... German: Keilschwanzsittiche ... French: Aratinga 
Species: Scientific: Aratinga solstitialis aka Aratinga solstitialis solstitialis ... English: Sun Conure, Yellow Conure ... Dutch: Zonparkiet ... German: Sonnensittich ... French: Perruche soleil CITES II - Endangered Distribution: South-eastern Venezuela, North-eastern Brazil, Northern Amazonas
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots ... All the Colors of the Sunset
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