Aratinga solstitialisBirdsSmall

Sun Conure

One of the most visually stunning small parrots — a burst of orange and yellow with green and blue wings.

playfulaffectionateloudenergeticcurious

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Origin

Brazil

Lifespan

20–30 years

Weight

100–130 g

Height

30 cm

Diet

Herbivore — conure pellets, fresh vegetables, fruit, small amounts of seed. Avoid avocado, chocolate, onion.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Psittacidae

Genus

Aratinga

The Story

One of the most visually stunning small parrots — a burst of orange and yellow with green and blue wings. Popular for its beauty, playfulness, and affectionate nature. Wild Sun Conures are Endangered, with populations severely diminished by the historical pet trade and habitat loss. Most pet Sun Conures today are captive-bred. Their significant noise limitation — one of the loudest birds relative to its size — is frequently underestimated by new owners.

Also Known As

Sun Parakeet

Quick Facts

Breed GroupCONURE

SizeSmall

ActivityVery High

TrainabilityModerate

CountryBrazil

Lifespan20 - 30 years

Good with KidsGood with PetsHypoallergenic

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Physical Profile

Source: wikimedia

Young birds are predominantly green, developing vivid orange-yellow adult colouration over 1–2 years. Adults are brilliant orange-yellow on head, breast, and abdomen, with green wings and blue flight feathers. Bare white periorbital eye ring, orange feet, dark beak.

Grooming

Low

Shedding

Low

Coat Colors

brilliant orange-yellow body with green wingsblue flight feathersorange face and underpartsbare white periorbital ring

Recognized By

CITES Appendix IIIUCN Endangered

Image Available

Source: wikimedia

Temperament & Personality

Playful, clownish, and deeply affectionate. Loves to hang upside down from fingers, burrow under clothing, and seek physical contact constantly. Their contact call is a high-pitched scream that can exceed 120 dB — a very significant apartment management challenge.

playfulaffectionateloudenergeticcuriousclownish

Living Profile

Activity LevelVery High

TrainabilityModerate

Noise LevelVery High

Care & Wellness

Professional Care Protocol

Ear Cleaning

Nail Trimming

Special Eye Care

Teeth Care

•Minimum cage 60 × 60 × 90 cm. 3–4 hours out-of-cage daily. Very active — needs many toys and foraging opportunities. Not suitable for apartments with close neighbours.

Vaccination Schedule

Adult BoosterN/A

Species NotesAnnual avian wellness examination by an avian-certified veterinarian is strongly recommended. Polyomavirus and Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci) vaccines exist for some species but are not universally recommended — discuss with your avian vet. Annual faecal parasite screening, crop cytology, and blood panel are standard avian preventive care.

Puppy / Kitten ScheduleN/A — birds do not follow standard vaccine schedules.

Health Overview

PDD. Feather plucking. Conure bleeding syndrome (a clotting disorder). Psittacosis. Polyomavirus in young birds.

Common Conditions

•Name: Conure Bleeding Syndrome • Severity: HIGH • Prevalence: OCCASIONAL • Description: Suspected vitamin K deficiency causing abnormal bleeding in young birds. Vitamin K supplementation and dietary correction.

•Name: Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD) • Severity: HIGH • Prevalence: OCCASIONAL • Description: Avian bornavirus.

•Name: Polyomavirus • Severity: HIGH • Prevalence: OCCASIONAL • Description: Viral infection causing sudden death in nestlings. DNA testing recommended.