Sun Parakeet as a pet
Aratinga solstitialis
In short
This species may suit you if you can live with noise level ‘very loud’, have room for an enclosure in class ‘medium’ and can care for the bird for up to about 40 years [S35, S54]. Biggest trade-off: the noise (class ‘very loud’) [S54]. The perfect parrot doesn’t exist: a species profile is no guarantee about your bird.
This information was compiled with AI from public sources and may contain errors. Always check legal rules with the competent authority. Not buying, veterinary or legal advice.
Talking
Moderate ability to mimic; not up to larger species [S54].
Noise
Exceptionally loud for its size, with high-pitched screams [S54]. The source mentions ‘120 decibels’ without saying how this was measured, so we do not use that figure as a measurement.
Lifespan
15–30 years in captivity [S54].
Space
Flemish parakeet guideline per pair: small species 100 × 80 × 50 cm, larger species 150 × 150 × 80 cm [S35]; the page does not explicitly classify this species, so the larger class is used here to be safe. Length about 30 cm [S54].
Suitable for beginners?
No statement about beginners read. Wikipedia Sun parakeet (S54) checked on 20/9/2026: no explicit statement about beginners; it does say ‘demands a great deal of attention’ and that constant mental stimulation is needed.
Costs
From €240 per year per bird. Flemish Huisdierwijzer pet guide (parakeets S35 / lovebirds S36): about €20 per bird per month × 12. Price level unknown; not a full budget or quote.
Paperwork and rules in Belgium
EU Annex B (CITES II). Ask the seller for proof of legal origin (invoice, transfer declaration; EU model recommended) and keep it [S40]. According to the FPS, anyone who buys, sells or breeds these birds keeps a register of arrivals and departures and keeps it for at least 5 years [S39]. Status as of 24 September 2026; check the current rules for your bird with the Belgian FPS Public Health [S39].
Adoption and availability
Not seen on the rescue pages we read.
What you have to accept
- Noise class ‘very loud’: only choose this species if your home situation can handle it [S54].
- Still unknown in the sources: suitability for beginners. That is not a ‘yes’.
- EU Annex B: ask the seller for proof of legal origin and keep it [S40].
- Adoption: not seen on the rescue pages we read; availability changes.
Compare with
Green-cheeked Parakeet: quieter according to the sources (‘moderate’ versus ‘very loud’), seen at a rescue [S4, S17, S54, S71].
Green-cheeked Parakeet · Compare with Green-cheeked ParakeetRose-ringed Parakeet: quieter according to the sources (‘loud’ versus ‘very loud’), less paperwork (no CITES annex versus EU Annex B) [S39, S40, S54, S59].
Rose-ringed Parakeet · Compare with Rose-ringed ParakeetCockatiel: quieter according to the sources (‘moderate’ versus ‘very loud’), less paperwork (no CITES annex versus EU Annex B); but larger space class (‘large’) [S2, S8, S21, S31, S35, S39, S40, S54, S71].
Cockatiel · Compare with Cockatiel
Source basis
Secondary source + Flemish parakeet group
Guideline sizes, costs and adoption listings come from Flemish sources; different rules may apply in Brussels and Wallonia. Foreign housing rules are not Belgian rules.
Sources
- S2 · LICG — Valkparkiet · read 2026-09-06
- S4 · LICG — Pyrrhura's · read 2026-09-06
- S8 · Vlaanderen — Huisdierwijzer Kaketoes · read 2026-09-06; opnieuw 2026-09-19 (maten, kosten, aantal)
- S17 · Wikipedia — Green-cheeked parakeet · read 2026-09-07
- S21 · BLV — Papageien im Tierschutzrecht · read 2026-09-11
- S31 · Liévin-Bazin e.a. (2018) — distress calls in cockatiels · read 2026-09-11
- S35 · Vlaanderen — Huisdierwijzer Parkieten · read 2026-09-19
- S36 · Vlaanderen — Huisdierwijzer Dwergpapegaai (Agapornis) · read 2026-09-19
- S39 · FOD Volksgezondheid — CITES-regels: Papegaaien · read 2026-09-24
- S40 · FOD Volksgezondheid — Beschermde soorten bezitten · read 2026-09-19
- S54 · Wikipedia — Sun parakeet · read 2026-09-19
- S59 · Wikipedia — Rose-ringed parakeet · read 2026-09-19
- S71 · adopteereendier.be — Volièrevogels · read 2026-09-19
Sources checked as of: