Sun Conure Parrot – Diet, Lifespan, Behavior & How to Care Properly

Hi and welcome to Parrots Cuisine! 🦜 Last time I shared some natural treats that parrots really enjoy. Today’s blog is for those parrots that aren’t just cute. They’re also full-time drama queens.

I’m not a professional. I’m just someone who truly loves animals and has been raising parrots for over 10 years. Whatever I’ve learned has come from observing my birds, taking care of them and sometimes learning the hard way through mistakes.

I only write about parrot food, because I believe that the best care starts with the best food. 💚

Sun Conures are colorful, playful, and serious attention seekers. In this blog, I’ll be sharing everything about their diet, daily routine, cage setup, and my personal experience so if you ever decide to bring one home, at least you’ll be a little prepared.

My Experience Raising Sun Conures at Home

I still remember when I brought my first baby sun conure home around March or April 2024. He was on handfeed, and I named him Rocky. In the beginning, he behaved so sweet and innocent. Wherever I placed him, he stayed quietly. He ate whatever I offered. I thought, wow, such a decent bird. But I had no idea that this was just the trailer… the real movie was still left.

After a few days of observing, Rocky started showing his real personality. We used to keep him in a small box at night because it was cold. But he didn’t like it at all. He wanted to stay outside. No matter how many barriers we made, he always escaped. He didn’t even sleep like normal birds. He used to lie down flat on his back, usually in someone’s lap, and even demanded a dupatta or soft cloth to cover himself like a blanket. And when he was asleep, no one was allowed to speak or move — because King Rocky's sleep must not be disturbed!

One day he flew for the first time and directly landed near the stove in the kitchen. Thank God, my mom saved him just in time. But from that day, flying into the kitchen and sitting on the stove became his favorite hobby. We had to install a door in our kitchen just because of him.

He never liked bird food. His favorite meal was chai and paratha. He didn’t drink water from any container only from the same glass we used. And if anyone was watching TV or eating peacefully, he would fly, land on their back, bite their ear, or jump straight into the food plate and mess everything up. Still, he never ate seed mix properly.

Then we brought two more baby parrots, thinking he might calm down. But he started bullying them too. During handfeeding, he used to snatch their food and even hit them. Until one day, both of them got fed up and attacked him together. That day, Rocky’s mind came back to its place, and all three became friends. Rocky started feeding them and teaching them naughty habits too.

Later, I shifted them to a large rooftop cage that I built for my birds. The left side was for parrots, and the right side for hens. Rocky and his group went up, and his priorities changed. Now instead of disturbing humans, he started disturbing other parrots.

Then I brought a new member of the gang, making it four. And Rocky formed a full gang. They eat first, sleep in the best box, fly all over the cage like they own it, and leave food for others only if something is left.

Now Rocky lives freely and doesn’t sit on my hand anymore. He only comes on top of the cage and enjoys the open sky above. I now call him Rocky 2.0. He’s healthy, happy, and still naughty — just a little more experienced.

So, if you’re planning to get this bird, here’s my warning:

Buy at your own risk! This bird might look cute, but trust me it’s a tiny parrot with BIG attitude. Once you bring it home, it will eat your peace, your food, and your patience. Now best of luck! ⚠️😂

What Do Sun Conures Eat?

Sun conures are foodie parrots. They are usually not picky eaters. In fact, they eat everything you offer them — especially the things they shouldn’t. Junk food is their favorite guilty pleasure. These birds love exploring new tastes. Whether it's wooden furniture or your plastic remote, they'll bite it at least once. That's their way of discovering the world.

They enjoy soft food, a variety of seeds, fruits, and vegetables. But just because they eat everything doesn’t mean everything is good for them. You must offer clean, fresh, and healthy food only. I’ve shared full details in my blog on what parrots eat in general — I recommend reading it too for more context.

If you want trusted expert tips, here's a veterinarian-backed feeding guide for this parrot from a reliable source.

Daily Feeding Schedule for These Birds

Every pet needs a proper routine. I’ve already shared my full routine in my blog on what parrots eat in general, but here’s a quick version.

• Morning: Soft food like egg rice or boiled lentils. Sometimes fruit too.
• Afternoon: Seed mix and clean water. No heavy or oily food in heat.
• Evening: Fruit, soft food or light seed portion depending on the day.

I also add multivitamins in their water regularly. Not every vitamin comes from food, so I use things like Vitasol and calcium powder. It keeps them healthy, especially during the breeding season.

Want to know how I prepare seeds? Check my blog on balanced seed mix I personally use — it’s simple and effective.

Safe Fruits, Seeds and Veggies for Sun Conure Parrots

These birds love variety. But not everything is safe. I always try to give seasonal fruits and vegetables, especially green-colored ones. They’re full of vitamins and support good digestion and feather quality.

• Fruits: Apple (without seeds), banana, guava, mango, papaya, grapes
• Veggies: Spinach, green peas, carrots, sweet potato, capsicum
• Seeds: Pumpkin seeds, safflower seeds, flaxseed, and sunflower seeds in small amount

Always wash food before serving. Try to rotate items often. Birds enjoy eating different things every day. It also helps them get all types of nutrients.

What Foods You Should Never Feed a Sun Conure

Some foods can be dangerous. Apple is safe, but its seeds are toxic. Always remove them. Same goes for most fruit seeds. Here's a list of food items I never feed them:

• Chocolate, coffee, tea, milk, soft drinks
• Avocado, onion, garlic, raw potato
• Spicy food, fried snacks, sugary treats, salted chips

Sun conures are food lovers — but they’re moody too. If they don’t get their favorite treat, they might stop eating or show attitude. My Rocky 2.0 acts exactly like this. That’s why I keep variety, balance, and care in everything I serve them. Controlled feeding is the secret to a healthy and happy parrot.

Check my tips on natural treats for parrots if you’re looking for safe snack ideas.

Sun Conure Cage Setup – Toys, Perches & Space Needs

Whether it’s a sun conure or any other parrot, they all deserve a big enough cage to fly and feel free. Some people keep these cute birds in small cages. I also used to do that, but now I realize how unfair it is. They also have the right to enjoy their life and stretch their wings.

Your bird’s cage should be spacious and placed in open air or near natural light. The birds should be able to see the outside world but stay safe from cats, rats, and other animals. When I shifted my parrots to a large room-size cage, their health improved a lot. Before that, I used to think I feed them properly, so why are they weak? Now I know how important space and environment are for their health.

If talking about their toys, I once hung a plastic swing in their cage. Trust me, they destroyed it like pros! So always give them strong wooden or plastic toys and perches. But be ready, they’ll chew them like there’s no tomorrow!

Do Sun Conures Really Talk?

The question everyone asks me, do rocky talk talk or only act nauty? Scientifically, they are not the best talking parrots. Some may learn a few words, but don’t expect full conversations. What they are really good at is screaming! Yes, they are loud. Very loud. I call mine the "crow gang" because they scream like crazy when they want food, attention, or anything else.

So if you think you’ll teach your parrot to say cute words, maybe it’ll happen maybe not. But one thing is for sure, you’ll hear them scream more than talk! They are not talking parrots, but definitely screaming masters. Especially Rocky the Crow, his voice can wake up the whole house!

For expert tips on managing this, check out training and behavior tips from bird experts.

Typical Sun Conure Behavior you should expect

I’ve already shared the crazy story of Rocky and his wild habits. So what kind of sun conure behavior can you expect? These birds are extremely playful, naughty, and full of drama. They love to fly, chew, make noise, and always need attention. If you don’t give them time, they’ll get moody or even aggressive.

They are not calm birds. If you want a quiet pet, this is not the one. But if you want a funny, active, and sometimes annoying buddy, then they’re perfect! Just be patient, and always give them space to move and toys to destroy.

Still thinking about keeping them as pets? Make sure you’re ready for a lot of noise, fun, and little bites here and there!

How long do sun conures live and what affects their lifespan

If you give them good care, love and clean space, sun conures can live a very long life. Their average lifespan is around 20 to 30 years. Yes, they are long-term birds, not short-term guests.

How long your bird lives depends on many things. If you feed them a healthy diet, give them enough space to fly, toys to play with, and take them to the vet when needed, your sun conure life expectancy will increase. Like humans, happy birds live longer too.

So when someone asks you how long do sun conures live, just say, longer than your Netflix obsession if you care for them properly.

What is the cost of a sun conure and how much does it take to care for one

Their price can be anywhere between 300 to 800 US dollars. But remember, this is not the same everywhere. It depends on your country, city, and even the seller. In some places, it may be more or less.

I suggest you visit your local bird shop or breeder to know the real price in your area. Also, don’t forget the other costs. A big cage, perches, toys, food, multivitamins, and cleaning items are all needed. If your bird gets sick, you may also need to visit an avian vet. So always keep some budget for that.

Buying a sun conure is just the beginning. Real ownership starts when you care for them every single day. And if you are ready for it, they will fill your home with color, sound, and lots of drama.

If you have any questions, feedback, or would like to share your own experience, you can contact me at writersdesk81@gmail.com. I always appreciate hearing from readers.