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Sun parakeet, orSun conure, orYellow conure(Aratinga solstitialis)
Phylum —chordata
Class — aves
Order — psittaciformes
Family — psittacidae
Genus—aratinga
Appearance
On average, Sun parakeets weigh around 110 g (4 oz) and are around 30 cm (12 in) long. The sexes are similar in plumage. Adults have a rich yellow crown, nape, mantle, lesser wing-coverts, tips of the greater wing-coverts, chest, and underwing-coverts. The face and belly are orange with red around the ears. The base of the greater wing-coverts, tertials, and base of the primaries are green, while the secondaries, tips of the primaries, and most of the primary coverts are dark blue. The tail is olive-green with a blue tip. From below, all the flight feathers are dark greyish. The bill is black. The legs and the bare eye-ring are grey, but the latter often fades to white in captivity.
Juvenile Sun parakeets display a predominantly green plumage and resemble similar-aged Sulphur-breasted parakeets. The distinctive yellow, orange, and reddish coloration on the back, abdomen, and head is attained with maturity.
Habitat
Sun conures live in a relatively small region of northeastern South America: the north Brazilian state of Roraima, southern Guyana, extreme southern Suriname, and southern French Guiana. They also occur as vagrants to coastal French Guiana.
Behavior
Like other members of the genus Aratinga, the Sun parakeet is very social and typically occurs in large flocks of 20 to 30 individuals. They rarely leave the flock, but when they get separated from the group, they squawk and scream in a high-pitched voice which can carry for hundreds of yards, allowing individuals to communicate with their flock and return to them. Flocks are relatively quiet while feeding, but are known to be very vocal and make loud noises when in flight. They can travel many miles in a single day, and they are fast, direct flyers. Nonverbal communication is also practiced, with a variety of physical displays. Birds within a flock rest, feed one another, preen, and bathe throughout the daylight hours. They move through the trees using their beaks for extra support. They also have the ability to use their feet like hands to help hold, examine, or eat items. When in molt, conures are uncomfortable, so are easily irritable. Bathing, warm rainfalls, and humidity allow the sheaths of each pin feather to open more easily and lessen their discomfort. Sun conures are extremely smart and curious, so require constant mental stimulation and social interaction. Their speech and ability to learn tricks in captivity are quite moderate.
Diet
In the wild, Sun conures mainly feed on fruits, flowers, berries, blossoms, seeds, nuts, and insects. They feed on both ripe and half-ripe seeds of both fruits and berries.
Reproduction
Young Sun conures form monogamous pairs around 4 to 5 months of age. Prior to breeding, they may be seen feeding and grooming one another. Mating can last up to three minutes, after which pairs become very affectionate with each other. Prior to egg laying, the female's abdomen noticeably swells. Typical clutch size is three or four white eggs, and they may be laid in two- to three-day intervals. Pairs may only destroy and eat their eggs in cases of calcium deficiency. Females are responsible for the entire incubation period from 23 to 27 days, and only leave the nest for short feeding periods. Males aggressively protect the nest from potential predators. Eggs may fail to hatch if they are not kept warm or if the bird fails to break through the shell successfully, which may take from a few hours to a few days. Chicks are born blind, naked and completely vulnerable. Only after 10 days, they begin to open their eyes and their feather quills break through. Both parents participate in feeding the chicks. The young depend on their parents for 7 to 8 weeks after hatching, and only become independent after 9 to 12 weeks. Conures are sexually mature around 2 years of age and have a lifespan ranging from 25 to 30 years.
In captivity
The Sun conure is an active bird that will be happiest in a roomy enclosure. At a minimum, give it a cage that is 20 inches by 20 inches in footprint with a height of at least 36 inches. Make sure the cage has relatively narrow bar spacing (3/4 to one inch) to prevent the bird from getting its head stuck between the bars.
As is true of most other parrot species, the Sun conure needs safe out-of-cage areas to explore and investigate. This athletic bird loves to create its own tricks. Provide it a play gym on top of its cage so it can stretch its legs and wings.
Like most pet birds, Sun conures require training if you want to have a positive and fun relationship with them. Use positive reinforcement techniques to train this parrot to do several athletic tricks. This bird will not respond well to scolding or any kind of negative reinforcement.
Sun conures are less excited about bathing than some parrots, but most will splash about and bathe daily if the cage has a bowl of clean water each day. Conures do not like spray showers as much as some other parrots do.
As with all birds, proper exercise is imperative to good health. Sun conures are, by nature, very active and need adequate space to fly, explore, and play. Your Sun conure should be allowed at least 3 hours out of the cage each day. Foraging and other forms of enrichment are essential for these intelligent birds. Make sure to provide the bird with a variety of interesting toys and change them at regular intervals to prevent your pet from growing bored.
In the wild, Sun conures primarily feast on fruit, nuts, and seeds. In captivity, they do best on a formulated, balanced pellet diet supplemented with fruits, leafy greens, and root vegetables. Slightly steamed sweet potatoes are an excellent food for your pet conure. You can give them an unlimited amount of pellet food; they will only eat what they need. As for fresh fruits and veggies, offer about a 1/8 to 1/4 cup in the morning and at night. Like other companion birds, a Sun conure needs and appreciates treats, so make healthy choices for treats. Nuts and seeds are always a good choice for an occasional treat. Walnuts and almonds are excellent selections. If you would like to make feeding your feathered companion easier, try making a grain bake casserole dish. It freezes well for a healthy, portioned meal for your bird.
