Sun conures have bright plumage over most of their body, including yellow crowns, orange bellies and red coloring around their eyes and ears. Their wings have blue and olive green tips and their wingspan can grow to 58 - 64 inches.
These birds will form monogamous pairs and nest in tree cavities or termite mounds. Once they reach sexual maturity, they will lay a clutch of four to five eggs. Females will incubate the clutch for 23 days, while the males will protect the nest. Nests have been observed to contain eggs and adults from multiple breeding pairs, which shows the species participates in cooperative breeding.
Once born, chicks are extremely vulnerable, and will not open their eyes or develop feathers for ten days. Both parents will help to feed the chicks until they are independent after nine or ten weeks.
Sun conure at the Akron Zoo
Sun conures live in Primate Passage at the Akron Zoo.
- Archimedes - male, born March 19, 2020
- Vaga - female, born Oct. 23, 2019