bird of the day: sun conure

the sun conure, also known as the sun parakeet, is a medium-sized parrot native to a small area of south america.

sun conures are known for being incredibly social, and usually live in flocks of 20-30 birds. when separated from the flock, birds will emit shrill screams until they are reuinited.

sun conures are monogamous, and pairs nest in hollows made in palm trees (in areas where there is lack of appropriate nesting spots, they have also been observed making these hollows in poles supporting power lines).

sun conures have become a relatively popular bird in the pet trade, though they aren’t easy to care for. while they are known for being charismatic and friendly, they also hold a reputation for screaming loudly and sometimes constantly, and being emotionally needy, as their social behavior from their wild flocks translates to social behavior with their designated person.

unfortunately, sun conures are endangered. they have faced population decline from habitat loss, but the main cause is trapping for the pet trade. there are currently more sun conures as pets than there are in the wild.

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