Sun Conure 
(Aratinga Solstitialis)
Description: Sun Conures are one of avicultures most stunning small parrots. Their back and mantle are a bright yellow with red-orange suffusion on the face, breast and underbelly. The primary wing feathers are a dark blue while the wing coverts are green with yellow tipping. Green plumage covers the tail and is tipped with blue. The beak is black, eyes brown and legs dark grey. Both sexes are identical in apperance and the only 100% sure way to sex them is by DNA testing.
Size: These birds average about 12 inches (30cm) including their tail length.
Origin: Sun Conures originated from Northern Brazil spreading out through Venezuela and the Guianas.
Mutations/Sub-species: Sun Conures only come in Normal or the Pied mutation but there are many Aratinga species.
Jenday Conure (Aratinga Jandaya)-close in apperance to Sun Conures but with
more green and less vivid orange
Golden Conure (Aratinga Guarouba)-completly golden yellow with green primary
& secondary wing feathers
Gold Capped Conure (Aratinga auricapilla)-gold face and mantle with red-orange
around the eyes and belly
Blue Crowned Conure (Aratinga Acuticaudata)-mainly green with bright blue
suffusion on the head
Peach Front Conure (Aratinga Aurea)- similar to Petz's Conures but with black
colored beak
Petz's Conure (Aratinga Canicularis)-similar to Peach Front Conures with horn
colored beak (aka: Halfmoon)
Cherry Head Conure (Aratinga Erythrogenyus)-mainly green with completly bright
red heads (aka: Red Masked)
White Eyed Conure (Aratinga Leucophthalmus)-mainly green with red area on
underside of wings
Mitred Conure (Aratinga Mitrata)-mainly green with splotched red markings
on mantle and face
Aztec Conure (Aratinga Nana)-mainly green with Olive throat markings and light
brown underbelly
Brown Throat Conure (Aratinga Pertinax)-mainly green with orange-brown cheek
and throat markings
Red Front Conure (Aratinga Wagleri)-mainly green with red mantle and wing
markings
Diet: A good Sun Conure diet must include large mixed millets, canary grass seeds, hemp seed, safflower, sunflower, peanut, fruits and veggies. Many people use a Cockatiel seed mix with added sunflowers and peanuts. Be careful not to add too much sunflower as Conures can easily become "sunflower junkies". Sunflower seeds are very high in fat content and can make your Conure become overwieght if proper excersise is not maintained. Apples and Cucumbers seem to be relished by our Conures. Lettuce, spinach, chickweed, spray millet, eggfood, brocolli tops, carrot tops, orange slices and non-poisionous berries can also be offered on a regular basis. Fresh water, cuttlebone and grit should also be supplied at all times.
General Care: These birds will demand attention if they are hand tame pets. If they do not get attention they will revert back to a wild state or get negative attention with misbeahavior (screeching etc.) like many ignored pet birds. They are curious and amusing birds so be careful to keep them out of harm's way. Conures tend to trim their own nails but they do require daily water changes.
Compatibility: Sun Conures do best as a single pet bird or caged in pairs. Conures can be very affectionate towards there owners but they require a lot of attention and become very noisy if neglected.
Housing: Pet Conures can be kept in store bought medium parrot cages if they are allowed to be outside of the cage for the majority of the day. If they are not allowed to be outside the cage (as with untamed or breeder birds) they will require more space so they can fly and get needed exercise. If you are planing on breeding Conures they will breed in individual pair cages. I would suggest a minimum breeding cage space of 48 inches long x 24 inches high x 24 inches wide with a 1/2-3/4 inch bar spacing if you use wire cages. Do not house them in round cages. If they are used to 75-80 F degrees and you suddenly place them outside in 40 F temperatures it is likely they will become ill. However, if the temp drops naturally over a period of time they normally adjust just fine. Although, I would suggest keeping the aviary tmp at least 45 degrees during winter.
Song: The Sun Conure has no song but they do make difference sounds, screeches, and noises. Differences can be noted in the mate call, warning or alarm call, and flock call. One Conure normally dose not make too much noise unless it wants attention but a colony or flock of Conures can make a tremedious amount of noise. Sun Conures have been known to talk on occasion but not as often as the other Conure species such as the Blue Crowns.
Breeding: Most Conures show intrest in breeding at about 2 years of age. Provided you supply an adequate enviroment and nest box a bonded pair in breeding condition should mate and produce at least 2 clutches of 3-4 eggs a year.The nestbox size I suggest is 12 x12 x12 or 15x12x12 made out of strong plywood. They incubate the eggs for about 25 days and will make shrill noises if they are distrubed durring this time. After hatching the young conures will begin to feather out at about 4 weeks old and will not be fully weaned until they are 6-8 weeks old. Baby Conures can be pulled out of the nest at 3 weeks old in order to hand feed them. I see no reason why they need to be pulled before 3 weeks unless the parents are not careing for them correctly. Do not interfer with the pairs while they are nesting, incubbating or taking care of young babies.
Price List: Sun Conures can be sexed for an additional $25.00 added to purchase price.
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Mutation
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Price (Handfed & Unsexed)
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Price (Handfed & Sexed)
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Sun Conures
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$325.00 Each
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$350.00 Each
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