I've had my sun conure for about a year now and he's usually pretty friendly, but lately he's been getting really aggressive and nippy around late afternoon and early evening. It's gotten bad enough that I'm worried about holding him during those hours. Is this a hormonal thing, or could it be something else like tiredness or hunger?
The most likely culprit is that he's tired and his sleep schedule is getting disrupted - sun conures need a solid 10-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and if he's not getting that, late afternoon is when he gets cranky and defensive. It could also be hunger if you're feeding him at different times, or he might be hitting sexual maturity (around 1-2 years old) which can trigger aggression, but I'd start by making sure he has a consistent, quiet sleep routine in a darker area during evening hours. If he's still biting after you lock in the sleep schedule for a couple weeks, then check with an avian vet to rule out any health stuff or get advice on behavior management.
I've noticed that conures can get genuinely cranky when they're overstimulated, which often peaks in late afternoon when they've had a full day of activity and interaction. Beyond the sleep deprivation angle already mentioned, this is also prime breeding-season behavior territory - sun conures can display territorial or hormonal aggression even in captivity, especially if they're getting a lot of natural light exposure in the evening hours. If you've got him near a window with extended daylight, the changing light patterns as we head into fall might actually be triggering some of those behaviors. Try dimming his space and reducing handling intensity during those problem hours for a couple of weeks and see if it settles down.
Late afternoon aggression in sun conures usually comes down to a combo of things happening at once, not just one factor. The sleep and overstimulation angles both matter, but here's what I'd actually look at first: are you feeding him around that time or right before? Hungry birds get snappy, and if his meal schedule is off or inconsistent, he'll let you know with his beak. Beyond that, yeah, check if he's getting enough downtime earlier in the day - if he's been handled or stimulated constantly, he hits a wall around late afternoon and basically tells you he's done. I'd suggest moving feeding time a bit earlier if you haven't already, making sure he has a quiet space where he can chill midday, and keeping your hands away during those known grumpy hours while you sort out his routine. Once his schedule settles and he's getting proper rest before things get chaotic, the biting usually calms down.
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