Sun Conure

The Sun Conure, also known as the Sun Parakeet, is a medium-small, long-tailed parrot native to the Guiana Shield region of northeastern South America. It is one of the most colorful members of its genus.

Adults are brilliant golden-orange over most of the body, with a yellow-tinged head and back, greenish-blue flight feathers and tail tip, and orange-red highlights on the face and shoulders. Juveniles are considerably duller, mostly green with only patches of yellow and orange that increase as they mature over a couple of years.

In flight, the mix of orange, yellow, and green with blue-tipped wings makes this one of the most visually striking parakeets in its range.

Key field marks

• Overall golden-orange body plumage
• Green and blue in the flight feathers and tail
• Bare whitish eye-ring
• Long, pointed tail typical of Aratinga parakeets

Age differences

Juveniles are largely green with limited yellow-orange mottling, gradually acquiring full adult coloration over one to two years.

Similar species

The Sun Conure can be confused with the Sulphur-breasted (Jandaya) Parakeet and Golden-capped Parakeet, both of which are less extensively orange and retain more green on the body and back. Range also helps: Sun Conures are restricted to a small area of northeastern South America, while related species occur further south and east in Brazil.

Range

The Sun Conure has a naturally restricted range in the Guiana Shield, including parts of northern Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela.

Habitat

It inhabits tropical savanna, dry seasonal woodland, forest edge, and palm-studded scrub, often in areas with scattered trees rather than closed-canopy rainforest.

Movements

Sun Conures are largely sedentary but move locally in flocks in response to the fruiting and flowering of key food trees.

Social behavior

Highly social, Sun Conures travel and forage in flocks that can number from a handful of birds to several dozen, often roosting communally in palms or tall trees.

Voice

The voice is loud and piercing, with sharp, screeching contact calls given frequently in flight; flocks are often heard well before they are seen.

Feeding

They feed in the canopy and mid-story on fruits, seeds, blossoms, and nectar-rich flowers, using their feet to hold food while feeding.

Nesting and breeding

Sun Conures nest in tree cavities, including old woodpecker holes and palm hollows, typically laying clutches of 3-4 eggs. They can nest colonially where suitable cavities are clustered, with pairs defending only the immediate nest site.