(Aratinga solstitialis)

Sun Conures are small parrots mesuring 25-30cm, weighing 100-120gr. They come from South America, north of Amazon where they can be seen in colonies of 30 to 50 birds. One can see them most often in the savannas, palm forests and woods.

As their name suuggest, Sun Conure colors are those of Sun what makes them one of the most beautifull parrots : yellow and orange on the head, belly and wings, green in the primary flights and tail and fluorescent blue at their points. Their shiny black beak and black eyes with white contour complete the picture of this exceptional parrot which attracts attention everywhere at its presents. As all parrots they were given by nature a distinct scream needed to communicate in dense tropical vegetation.  No dimorphism lets distinguish between male and female.    

Lively, playfull, affectionate and inteligent,  Sun Conure seduces everyone. Tamed and socialized it seeks the human presence and interaction. Even when living as a couple, the sun remains attached to people and love to be touched, played with as it does with another bird. Sun Conures are not known for their talking abilities but, with time and patience they can say their name, and few simple words. Their beauty and playfulness more then make for their poor talking predisposition.

Properly housed and given adequat conditions, conures breed readily. The femelle lays 4 eggs she incubates for 23 days. The male is accepted in the nestbox where he he feeds his mate and even seats on the eggs. Both parents take care of the chicks days and nights. The babies are covered by a white down.  The pin feathers start to appear and at about 3 weeks  the colours can be seen. Babies are mostly dark green with a golden head; the dazzling, firelike colors will replace the dull feathers after each molding. It is said that from the 10-th month of age the colouring resembles more and more to the adult feathers. Male and female look alike and only a DNA sexing can sort the birds.

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