Sun Conure (Aratinga solstitialis)

The Sun Conure belongs to the Aratinga solstitialis complex that includes the Jenday, Gold-capped and the Sulphur-breasted Parakeet, which was separated from the Sun Conure as a species about a decade ago.  The Sulphur-breast is so physically similar to the Sun Conure that it wasn’t identified as a separate species until 2005.  It is possible that some of these Conures are living incognito in captivity, although it is thought that far more Sun Conures have been exported into the United States and Europe since the 1850s, but companion Sulphur-breasts are more common as pets in Brazil.  In ornithology, Conures are referred to as parakeets, so you may see the bird that aviculture calls the Sun Conure referred to as the Sun Parakeet.  Sun Conures are about a foot long, including their long tails, and have been one of the most popular companion Conures for many years.  They are now considered to be endangered in the wild, due to habitat destruction and capture for the pet trade.

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