Bird-Safe Foods & Plants Database

118 results

• Apple (no seeds)

  Safe

  Excellent treat. Always remove seeds and core — apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides.

• Banana

  Safe

  Soft, sweet, easy to digest. High in potassium.

• Blueberries

  Safe

  Antioxidant-rich, sized for small birds. Most birds love them.

• Strawberries

  Safe

  High in vitamin C. Wash thoroughly to remove pesticides.

• Raspberries

  Safe

  Safe in small amounts.

• Mango

  Safe

  Tropical favourite — high in vitamin A. Remove skin and pit.

• Papaya

  Safe

  Aids digestion. Seeds are also safe and have natural deworming properties.

• Pineapple

  Safe

  Fresh only — canned has too much sugar.

• Pomegranate

  Safe

  Seeds and arils both safe.

• Grapes

  Safe

  Halve for small birds. Sugar-rich, treat-only.

• Watermelon

  Safe

  Hydrating treat. Seeds are also safe.

• Cantaloupe

  Safe

  Safe — including seeds.

• Honeydew

  Safe

  Safe with rind removed.

• Kiwi

  Safe

  Skin and flesh both safe.

• Orange / Citrus

  Caution

  Small amounts only — high acidity can irritate. Avoid for African Greys.

• Lemon / Lime

  Caution

  Too acidic for regular feeding.

• Cherries (no pit)

  Safe

  Flesh is safe — pit contains cyanogenic compounds, must be removed.

• Peach (no pit)

  Safe

  Flesh safe — pit toxic. Remove before serving.

• Plum (no pit)

  Safe

  Flesh safe — pit toxic. Remove before serving.

• Apricot (no pit)

  Safe

  Flesh safe — pit toxic.

• Pear (no seeds)

  Safe

  Remove seeds and core. Pear seeds contain trace cyanogenic compounds.

• Avocado

  LETHAL

  Contains persin — fatal to birds even in tiny amounts. NEVER feed any part of the avocado plant or fruit.

• Carrots

  Safe

  Excellent vitamin A source. Raw or cooked.

• Broccoli

  Safe

  Highly nutritious — give florets and stems.

• Cauliflower

  Safe

  Safe raw or cooked.

• Bell peppers (any colour)

  Safe

  Birds don't taste capsaicin — even hot peppers are safe and beloved by parrots.

• Hot peppers / chillies

  Safe

  Birds lack capsaicin receptors — chilies are safe and many parrots love them.

• Sweet potato

  Safe

  Cooked — excellent vitamin A source.

• Pumpkin

  Safe

  Cooked flesh and raw seeds both safe.

• Butternut / acorn squash

  Safe

  Cooked. Seeds also safe.

• Zucchini / courgette

  Safe

  Raw or cooked.

• Cucumber

  Safe

  Mostly water — hydrating but low nutrient.

• Peas

  Safe

  Fresh or frozen-thawed. Avoid canned (sodium).

• Green beans

  Safe

  Cooked. Raw beans of most types are toxic — green beans are an exception.

• Corn

  Safe

  Fresh or frozen — small amounts. High starch.

• Spinach

  Caution

  High in oxalates which bind calcium. OK occasionally; not as a daily green.

• Kale

  Safe

  Excellent calcium source — staple green for many breeders.

• Romaine / leafy lettuce

  Safe

  Romaine and dark lettuces are good. Iceberg has minimal nutrition.

• Iceberg lettuce

  Caution

  Mostly water — low nutritional value, can cause loose droppings.

• Beets

  Safe

  Cooked. Roots and greens both safe.

• Cabbage

  Safe

  Raw or cooked. May cause gas.

• Brussels sprouts

  Safe

  Raw or cooked.

• Bok choy

  Safe

  Excellent calcium source.

• Swiss chard

  Caution

  High in oxalates — feed sparingly like spinach.

• Onion

  Toxic

  Causes haemolytic anaemia. Cooked or raw — never feed.

• Garlic

  Toxic

  Same toxicity mechanism as onion. Avoid.

• Leeks / scallions / chives

  Toxic

  All allium family — same haemolytic toxicity as onions.

• Mushrooms

  Caution

  Wild mushrooms can be lethal. Plain cultivated button/cremini in tiny cooked amounts is generally fine — but easier to skip entirely.

• Rhubarb (leaves)

  LETHAL

  Oxalic acid — kidney damage. Never feed rhubarb leaves.

• Tomato (fruit only)

  Caution

  Ripe tomato fruit is fine in small amounts; leaves and stems are toxic.

• Potato (cooked)

  Safe

  Cooked plain potato is safe. Raw potato and any green parts contain solanine and are toxic.

• Eggplant / aubergine

  Caution

  Cooked flesh in small amounts. Leaves, stems, and any green parts are toxic.

• Brown rice

  Safe

  Cooked. Good carbohydrate base for chop.

• White rice

  Safe

  Cooked — lower nutrition than brown but safe.

• Oats / oatmeal

  Safe

  Plain rolled oats — uncooked or cooked.

• Quinoa

  Safe

  Cooked. Complete protein, excellent for chop.

• Whole-wheat pasta

  Safe

  Cooked, plain — no salt or sauce.

• Whole-grain bread

  Caution

  Small amounts — not a staple. Avoid bread with salt, sugar, or seeds you can't identify.

• Barley

  Safe

  Cooked.

• Couscous

  Safe

  Cooked, plain.

• Millet

  Safe

  Sprayed millet is a treat staple for many small birds.

• Hard-boiled egg

  Safe

  Including the shell (calcium). Excellent protein for breeding hens.

• Cooked chicken (plain)

  Safe

  Plain, no seasoning, small amounts. Many parrots love it.

• Cooked turkey (plain)

  Safe

  Same rules as chicken.

• Cooked fish

  Safe

  Plain, no seasoning. Salmon and tuna are popular but only small amounts.

• Cooked beans (lentils, chickpeas, kidney)

  Safe

  COOKED only. Raw/dried beans contain lectins which are toxic.

• Raw beans (any)

  Toxic

  Lectins (phytohaemagglutinins) — toxic raw. Always cook.

• Tofu

  Safe

  Plain, small amounts.

• Yogurt (plain)

  Caution

  Birds lack the enzyme to digest lactose. Plain yogurt has lower lactose and is generally OK in tiny amounts.

• Hard cheese

  Caution

  Small amounts only — birds are lactose intolerant.

• Milk

  Toxic

  Birds cannot digest lactose — causes diarrhoea and dehydration.

• Butter

  Caution

  High fat — avoid as a staple.

• Almonds

  Safe

  Unsalted, no shell for small birds. Treat amounts only — high fat.

• Walnuts

  Safe

  Unsalted, treat only.

• Pecans

  Safe

  Unsalted, treat only.

• Cashews (cooked)

  Safe

  Roasted only — raw cashews contain urushiol.

• Peanuts (in shell)

  Caution

  Mold/aflatoxin risk in stored peanuts is high. Buy human-grade only or skip entirely.

• Pine nuts

  Safe

  Treat amount only — very high fat.

• Pumpkin seeds

  Safe

  Raw, unsalted — natural deworming properties.

• Sunflower seeds

  Caution

  Treat only — too high in fat for daily feeding. Cause of obesity in many pet birds.

• Salted nuts (any)

  Toxic

  Salt is toxic to birds in even small amounts.

• Chocolate

  LETHAL

  Theobromine and caffeine — fatal even in small amounts. Includes white chocolate.

• Coffee / caffeine

  LETHAL

  Cardiac arrest from caffeine toxicity.

• Tea (caffeinated)

  Toxic

  Caffeine. Decaf herbal teas in tiny amounts may be safe.

• Alcohol

  LETHAL

  Lethal even in tiny amounts due to bird's small body mass.

• Salt / salty foods

  Toxic

  Sodium toxicity — chips, crackers, processed foods all dangerous.

• Sugary candy / sweets

  Caution

  No nutritional value, contributes to fatty liver. Avoid.

• Xylitol (sugar substitute)

  LETHAL

  Sugar-free gum, candy, and baked goods often contain xylitol — fatal to birds.

• Fried food / deep-fried

  Toxic

  Fats coat respiratory tissues, cause fatty liver.

• Avocado plant (any part)

  LETHAL

  Persin throughout the plant — leaves, fruit, pit, all parts.

• Lily (most species)

  Toxic

  Many lily species are toxic to birds. Calla, peace, and Easter lilies all problematic.

• Philodendron

  Toxic

  Calcium oxalate crystals — oral irritation, swelling, breathing problems.

• Pothos / devil's ivy

  Toxic

  Calcium oxalate crystals.

• Dieffenbachia / dumb cane

  Toxic

  Calcium oxalate — severe oral pain, possible asphyxiation.

• Sago palm

  LETHAL

  Cycasin — liver failure. One of the deadliest household plants.

• Oleander

  LETHAL

  Cardiac glycosides — fatal even in small amounts.

• Yew

  LETHAL

  Taxine alkaloids — sudden cardiac death.

• Mistletoe

  Toxic

  Berries especially — viscotoxin.

• English ivy

  Toxic

  Saponins — vomiting, breathing difficulty.

• Azalea / rhododendron

  LETHAL

  Grayanotoxin — cardiac and neurological effects.

• Foxglove

  LETHAL

  Cardiac glycosides — same toxin family as oleander.

• Daffodil bulbs

  Toxic

  Lycorine — vomiting, weakness, possible cardiac effects.

• Tulip bulbs

  Toxic

  Tulipalin — gastrointestinal and skin irritation.

• Holly berries

  Toxic

  Saponins — vomiting.

• Castor bean plant

  LETHAL

  Ricin — one of the most toxic plant compounds known.

• Lily of the valley

  LETHAL

  Cardiac glycosides — fatal.

• Spider plant

  Safe

  Non-toxic. Birds may chew leaves without harm.

• African violet

  Safe

  Non-toxic.

• Boston fern

  Safe

  Non-toxic.

• Areca palm

  Safe

  Non-toxic — popular "bird-safe" houseplant.

• Hibiscus

  Safe

  Flowers and leaves both safe — often given as enrichment.

• Roses

  Safe

  Petals and rose hips are safe (and nutritious). Watch for pesticide residue.

• Marigold

  Safe

  Non-toxic; flowers are good foraging enrichment.

• Sunflower

  Safe

  Whole heads are excellent foraging toys.

• Teflon / non-stick cookware

  LETHAL

  PTFE fumes when overheated kill birds within minutes. Replace with stainless or cast-iron.

• Scented candles / air fresheners

  Toxic

  Aerosolised compounds damage bird respiratory tracts.

• Tobacco smoke

  Toxic

  Causes chronic respiratory disease and shortens lifespan dramatically.

• Aerosol sprays (perfume, cleaners, hairspray)

  Toxic

  Birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems.

Conservative reference only — not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. When in doubt, contact an avian vet immediately. Centre for Avian and Exotic Medicine emergency line is available 24/7 in most major US cities.