Sun Conure cage size guide: can they spread their wings?

Cage size is the single most important factor for bird welfare — and the uncomfortable truth is that most commercially sold 'medium' cages are too small for a Sun Conure to fully extend their wings, which is a genuine welfare concern. Bar spacing matters too: for Sun Conures you want around 1.5–2cm spacing, wide enough to grip but not so wide they can get their head stuck. To help you figure out whether your current cage is adequate or needs replacing: what are the internal dimensions of your current cage, and do you know your conure's rough wingspan — or have you actually watched them try to stretch fully inside it?

A Sun Conure's wingspan is typically around 40–45cm, so on paper 60cm wide sounds like it might be enough — but 'wide' alone isn't the full picture. You need width AND depth, because birds don't just flap in one plane. If the cage is only 40–45cm deep, she's effectively clipping her wingtips against the bars even on a modest flap. The other issue with standard pet shop cages is height: Sun Conures are active climbers and need vertical space too. What's the depth and height of the cage, if you can measure it? That'll tell us whether it's genuinely borderline or clearly too small.

That confirms two problems. The depth at 45cm means she's almost certainly catching her wingtips when she stretches sideways — not enough clearance. And 2.5cm bar spacing is too wide for a Sun Conure; there's a real risk of her getting her head through, which can cause injury or panic. I'd recommend upgrading. For a single Sun Conure, the Montana Cages 'Tucson' is a solid choice — it's around 78cm wide, 48cm deep, and 158cm tall including the stand, with 1.8cm bar spacing that's right for conures. It's well built, the bar coating holds up to conure beaks, and the dimensions give her genuine room to flap without hitting the sides.

The stand is included — it comes as one unit, which also means the cage sits at a good height for the bird to be at or slightly below your eye level, which helps with trust and reduces stress. For cleaning, the base has a pull-out tray, so daily substrate changes take about two minutes. The cage doors are reasonably sized so you can reach in to scrub perches and toys without dismantling anything. Sun Conures are messy eaters so that pull-out tray will get daily use — it's one of the reasons I'd highlight it specifically for this species.

Yes — tape or cable-tie some cardboard or mesh over the inside of any gaps wider than 2cm so she can't push her head through while you're waiting. It's not elegant but it's a practical safety fix for a week or two. Also give her as much out-of-cage time as you safely can in a bird-proofed room — supervised free flight is the best substitute for a properly sized cage while you're in transition.