Sun Conure

Scientific Name: Aratinga solstitialis

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.

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.

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

Availability:

This bird is generally available. They can usually be found at pet stores and reputable breeders.