Sun Conures
There are more than 40 recognized species of Conures, and Sun Conures are one of the most striking in coloration and appeal.
Sun Conures can be adorable, cuddly birds to have. They can be very affectionate and loving to their humans.
Although Sun Conures will usually do a little talking, I don't rate them a great talker. A Sun's vocabulary is usually about 6-12 words. As with most Conures, a Sun can be very vocal in other ways as well. They are great "watch birds" and will let you know whenever anything is out of place, or when something new enters the area. If you place them in front of a window, they may scream a warning to let you know when the neighborhood cat crosses the yard, or a flock of birds land in the yard, or even when the local squirrel is out and about.
Understanding what motivates their 'parrot' screams often helps to modify the loudness (sometimes). A Sun may yell out as soon as they hear their humans nearby, or call out to their human if left alone too long. A Sun Conure needs to make sure their human flock is nearby.
Although there can always be an exception, do not expect a Sun Conure to be a quiet bird. A quiet Sun Conure is a rarity in my experience. Because of their noise volume, Suns are seldom the ideal parrot for apartments or households where noise is a concern, such as someone in the home working night shifts and needing to sleep during the day.
Suns love colorful bird toys with bells, lots of textures, and interactive bird toys. They usually love a hanging play area, or bird bed they can snuggle into for naps and during nighttime. Making sure they have lots to play with, and rotating their toys can sometimes help keep them entertained and busy, and hopefully help keep birdie yells to a minimum.
Suns are generally very good eaters, enjoying a wide variety of quality seed mixes, healthy pelleted foods, cooked foods, and most fruits and vegetables offered to them.
Probably their second favorite activity is bathing. Suns do seem to love splashing around in the water dishes, or fluffing up and catching every droplet of a spray bath. Bathing helps keep those golden feathers healthy and bright.
Although I consider Suns on the loud parrot meter at times, there is not a more fun loving. little bird around. Hanging from a toe and twirling around in circles is a fun pastime for many Suns, or hanging upside down just because it is fun. Upside down is often just a normal way to view the world in Sun Land. Suns can be great snugglers, often napping while being held.
If you don't mind a little noise, a brilliant Sun of Gold is a perfect choice for many people.
