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What not to feed birds


Toxic Foods Your Bird Should Never Eat

By Dr. Laurie Hess, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice)

As social eaters, wild birds feed in flocks of hundreds to even thousands in the wild. Pet birds, too, like to share mealtime with their flock-mates – either other birds in the house or their human caretakers. Eating with feathered companions is a great way to socialize them; however, there are some foods that humans love that should never be offered to pet birds because of potential toxicity.

Among the most common foods that are toxic to birds are:

1. Avocado

The leaves of the avocado plant contain persin, a fatty acid-like substance that kills fungus in the plant. When ingested by a bird, this substance may cause heart damage, respiratory difficulty, weakness, and even sudden death. While certain types of avocado have been safely consumed by some bird species, it’s hard to know which types of avocado will affect which species. It is also unclear how much avocado a pet bird would have to eat to be affected. Given the potential consequences, it’s best simply to avoid feeding avocado and avocado-containing foods (such as guacamole) to birds. Skip the dip, and offer your bird a carrot stick or pea pod.

2. Caffeine

We all love caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks, because they taste great, stimulate us, and wake us up. We might think of offering sip of these tasty beverages to our pet birds, but even a sip or two of these drinks can be toxic to our feathered companions. Caffeine can increase heart rate, induce arrhythmias and hyperactivity, and even cause cardiac arrest in birds. So, avoid the caffeinated products, and opt for water or an occasional taste of fruit juice for your thirsty bird.

3. Chocolate

Like us, birds have a hard time resisting chocolate or chocolate-containing foods. However, even in very small amounts, chocolate can be toxic to birds. Chocolate contains both theobromine and caffeine which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, increase heart rate, result in hyperactivity, induce tremors and seizures, and even cause death in birds. So, the next time you’re tempted to share an M&M or Hershey’s Kiss with your birdie buddy, offer him a piece of sugary fruit, like a mango, papaya, or grape, instead.

4. Salt

A dash here and a dash there. Many of us casually add this loved condiment to all sorts of foods without thinking. We also love salty chips, popcorn, pretzels, and crackers. But, just as too much salt isn’t good for us, it also isn’t good for our birds, and even a little bit is potentially toxic to a small bird. Even one salty chip or pretzel can upset the electrolyte and fluid balance in a bird’s tiny body, leading to excessive thirst, dehydration, kidney failure, and death. So, the next time you want to offer your bird a salty treat, choose a bite or two of unsalted popcorn or pretzels or a low-salt cracker, instead.

5. Fat

We all know that consumption of high-fat foods, such as butter, oil, fatty meats, and nuts can result in build-up of cholesterol deposits in the walls of our arteries (known as atherosclerosis), predisposing to heart disease and stroke. Excessive ingestion of these foods also can lead to obesity and all the health problems that accompany this condition. The same processes occur in birds, and certain bird species, such as Amazon and Quaker parrots, are prone to developing high cholesterol and triglyceride levels and subsequent coronary artery disease. Therefore, just as we should limit consumption of high-fat foods, so should birds. Birds can have an occasional bite of lean, cooked meat, but they should not be offered heaping quantities of these fat-filled items, especially if they are small relative to the portion size. Birds love nuts, but one unsalted almond or walnut every day is plenty for a medium-sized bird such as an African gray parrot. Larger birds that eat more fat in the wild, such as macaws, may have a few nuts a day, while smaller ones, such as cockatiels and budgies, should be offered no more than a few slivers of almond or a piece of walnut every day. Encourage your bird to be a lean mean flying machine, and limit fatty snacks.

6. Fruit pits and apple seeds

While most fruit is safe and generally healthy for birds to consume in small amounts, certain fruits containing seeds (such as apples and pears) and pits (such as cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums), should not be offered to birds without removing the seeds and pits first, as these seeds and pits contain small amounts of a cardiac-toxic cyanide compound. Without the seeds and pits, these fruits are completely safe for birds to consume. The seeds from other produce such as grapes, citrus fruits, squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, melons, mango, pomegranate, and berries, all are safe for bird consumption and can be fed without worry.

7. Onions and garlic

Many people expect that onions and garlic, like other vegetables, are healthy for birds. However, while these spicy veggies have heart benefits in people, whether fed raw or cooked, they are toxic to many animals, including birds, cats, and dogs. Onions contain sulfur compounds that, when chewed, can irritate the lining of a bird’s mouth, esophagus, or crop, causing ulcers, and can induce rupture of red blood cells resulting in anemia. Garlic contains allicin, another chemical that can cause anemia and weakness in birds. So, spice up your bird’s life with a small piece of vitamin A-rich hot pepper instead of garlic and onions.

8. Xylitol 

This common artificial sweetener, found in sugarless gum and many diet foods, causes hypoglycemia, liver damage, and possible death in dogs and other animals. While the effects of this sweetener haven’t been studied in detail in birds, birds have a faster metabolism than many other species and might therefore be very sensitive to the toxic effects of even tiny amounts of this chemical. Therefore, it’s best to avoid exposing birds to xylitol, altogether. Birds should not be offered chewing gum, as it can stick to their feathers and skin, and overweight birds should be fed low-fat fruits and vegetables, rather than diet products, to help them lose weight. Xylitol may be a sweet option in your weight loss plan but should be avoided in your bird’s diet.A big part of socializing a parrot is allowing your bird to come out of its cage at meal time, and offering him a very small amount of food while you’re eating can certainly make your bird feel that he’s part of the flock. Remember to share food that hasn’t been in your mouth (which contains bacteria and yeast foreign to birds) and that’s non-toxic to birds can be a great way to build trust with your pet and make him feel comfortable at home. If your bird should ingest any of these potentially toxic items, remember to contact your veterinarian immediately to see if treatment is warranted.

Top 10 Worst Foods To Feed Backyard Birds

Top 10 Bad Foods to Feed Backyard Birds

By

Melissa Mayntz

Melissa Mayntz

Melissa Mayntz is a bird expert, certified Master Naturalist, writer, and author with over three decades of experience. She's published in several national magazines, including National Wildlife Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and WildBird Magazine. Melissa has studied hundreds of bird species around the world, traveling to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the central Pacific, the Middle East, and more on birding expeditions.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 06/13/22

Reviewed by

Kathleen Miller

Reviewed by Kathleen Miller

Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

Fact checked by

Jillian Dara

Fact checked by Jillian Dara

Jillian is a freelance journalist with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. She is a writer and fact checker for TripSavvy, as well as a fact-checker for The Spruce.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

The Spruce

Every backyard birder wants to offer their feathered friends a healthy, nutritious buffet, and the key to attracting more birds is to use a variety of different foods, but what foods are bad choices? Poor foods can lead to malnutrition, disease, and avian obesity that can hinder birds' responses to predators and resistance to poor weather and diseases. Avoid these 10 bad foods for birds and you'll be sure to be providing your birds the best possible diet.

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Burt, Sara A et al. Nutritional implications of feeding free-living birds in public urban areas. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition vol. 105,2 (2021): 385-393. doi:10.1111/jpn.13441

  2. Cox, Caroline. Pesticides and Birds: From DDT to Today's Poisons. McGill Journal of Pesticide Reform.

  3. Storing Meat In Your Refrigerator - Meat Safety for the Consumer. University of Illinois

  4. Olaitan, Peter B et al. Honey: a reservoir for microorganisms and an inhibitory agent for microbes. African health sciences vol. 7,3 (2007): 159-65. doi:10.5555/afhs.2007.7.3.159

  5. How to Take Care of Birds. Broadview University

FEED THE BIRDS IN WINTER

Friends!

Colds are coming, and we traditionally begin to feed the birds, laying out food in feeders and hanging lard on trees. THE BOTANICAL GARDEN-INSTITUTE ACCEPTS BIRD FEED AND PROTEIN. We have a lot of feeders in the Arboretum, and in winter we regularly monitor their fullness. Well-fed birds survive the cold more easily and are more likely to survive until spring.

Feed the birds in winter!
Let from all over
They will flock to you like home,
Stakes on the porch.
Their food is poor.
A handful of grain is needed,
One handful - and they will not be afraid of winter.
How many of them die - do not count,
It's hard to see.
But in our heart there is
And the birds are warm.
Is it possible to forget:
Could fly away,
And they stayed for the winter
Along with people.
Train the birds in the cold
To your window,
So that without songs it was not necessary
We welcome spring!
Alexander Yashin
What can you feed the birds in winter

In winter, each type of bird eats a certain type of food. The species composition of visiting birds will also depend on what you pour into the feeder. The following are the main foods that can be used in winter top dressing:

1. GRAINS - MILLET, OATS, WHEAT

The favorite food of some birds are the seeds of various plants, especially cereals. Sprinkling millet or oats into the feeder will attract sparrows, goldfinches and other grain-eating birds. Birds in winter can be fed with wheat bran, hard oatmeal, poppy seeds, pearl barley. Some birds eat corn and watermelon seeds, which must be crushed beforehand. If you are interested in breeding useful birds in your garden, then in the fall prepare weed seeds - nettles, quinoa, burdock, thistles, and pour them into the feeder in winter. But keep in mind that this will be only an insignificant addition to the main feed. it is more correct to plant mountain ash, viburnum, hawthorn, buckthorn, bird cherry and other berry trees and shrubs on your feeding area.

2. SUNFLOWER SEEDS

The most versatile food for wintering birds. It can be eaten by both granivorous birds and tits, nuthatches, woodpeckers. The large amount of vegetable fats inside sunflower seeds makes them an important source of energy in cold winter conditions. If there is monotonous food in the feeder, sunflower tits will look for additional protein animal food.

3. SALO, MEAT

These products can also be used for winter bird feeding. They are very fond of tits, nuthatches and some other species of birds. But it is worth remembering that only unsalted lard or meat can be offered to birds. As a rule, pieces of bacon are strung on twine, which is hung on tree branches. Top dressing from fat or meat should be placed in such a way that it does not go to crows, magpies, jackdaws, as well as cats and dogs.

You can put a small piece of butter in the feeder. On especially frosty days, this product will help the birds survive.

4. DRIED ROWAN AND HAWTHORN, ROSE HIP, VELLOW

Berries of mountain ash and hawthorn attract the most beautiful winter birds - bullfinches and waxwings, mountain ash.

Dried berries and fruits. Make a bunch of dried fruits and berries. Using a needle, put pieces of dried apples, pears, plums, apricots on a strong thread, form a lump and hang near the feeder. You can offer the birds the pulp of a pumpkin. Cut through "windows and doors" in it, so that the birds can get inside. They themselves will choose what to try - seeds or pulp. Tie a small pumpkin by the tail with a strong rope and hang it from a thick branch.

Apples that start to spoil should also not be thrown away. Cut the apple in half, put it in a feeder or hang it on a wire.

5. MAPLE AND ASH SEEDS

The seeds of these trees are also called lionfish. Most of them fall from the trees and become inaccessible to birds. Lionfish are harvested in autumn and hung on feeders. Bullfinches, waxwings and some other visitors to bird canteens like to eat them.

6. FOREST NUTS, CONES, ACORNS

Cones are the main food of crossbills and woodpeckers in winter.

Jays have been stocking acorns since autumn, hiding them in secluded places. In winter, hidden food is a good help. Having prepared cones, nuts and acorns since autumn, you can attract not only woodpeckers and jays, but also squirrels to your feeder.

7. CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT

During the nesting period (not necessarily in winter), garden guests still need to be fed foods that contain calcium. You can put pre-boiled, ground eggshells or pieces of chalk to the feeder.

WHAT NOT TO FEED BIRDS

  1. It is strictly forbidden to feed birds with fried, salty (salted fat or meat), sour foods.

  2. You can not give fresh white and especially rye bread, these products cause fermentation in the goiter of the bird.

  3. It is also impossible to feed birds with citrus fruits, banana peels, peanuts, spicy foods, pieces of pies and whites, chips, potatoes.

Publication date: 11/15/2022

What can and cannot be fed to birds in winter? Products from our table. Photo — Botanichka

Feeding wild wintering birds in your garden or park is not just an act of mercy to our smaller brothers, but also a contribution to the future harvest. According to ornithologists, one tit can save up to 10 trees from pests per season, and one feeder provides food for up to 50 tits! The fact that sunflower seeds are most often poured into the feeder is known even to a child. But there are many different kitchen wastes that can also become a source of food for birds. Some foods on our table are perfect for birds, while others can do more harm than good. Let's take a closer look at what you can and cannot feed birds.

What can and cannot be fed to birds in winter?

What is the best food for feeding wild birds?

The high nutritional value and high calorie content of the food will give the birds a lot of energy and provide them with fat reserves that will help the birds survive the cold winter nights. Therefore, you need to feed the birds in your garden with quality food.

Most types of garden birds will enjoy sunflower seeds, nuts, and live or dried mealworms. For convenience, you can use ready-made specialized high-quality mixtures for birds. At the same time, choose a food containing a large amount of sunflower and millet seeds. Mixtures with a lot of unappetizing fillers, such as wheat and corn, are not very attractive to birds.

Avoid seed mixtures containing beans, peas, rice and lentils. Only large species of birds can eat them in a dry form, but these very rarely fly to the feeders. But prepared bird food and sunflower seeds are not the only suitable foods you can feed birds with.

By using kitchen waste as bird feed, you are using excess food for a good cause. But you could just throw them away! By turning waste into bird food, you have nothing to lose. And the birds at the same time enjoy a wide variety of food, flying to the feeders again and again.

Attention: do not forget that specialized mixtures or sunflower seeds should serve as the basis of the diet when feeding birds. If birds didn't eat anything other than kitchen waste, they wouldn't be able to get enough nutrients for healthy growth and energy. At the same time, malnutrition can lead to health problems, such as obesity or deformed feathers. To avoid harm, offer food waste in limited quantities.

The most frequent visitor to the feeders is the common great tit, which is able to eat a variety of types of food. © Ludmila Svetlitskaya

The best products for birds from our table

Fruits and berries without seeds or stones

Many fruits, berries, raisins, fresh grapes and even bananas and oranges can be used to feed birds. They are sure to love this meal. While many birds will enjoy fruits in hot countries, those birds that stay with us for the winter will also get the opportunity to feast on a vitamin supplement.

Arrange sliced ​​apples, tangerine slices, banana slices, grape halves and melon peels inside feeders, hang them on thorns or thin tree branches, and the birds will certainly appreciate the treat. Crushed or dried fruits and berries (such as cranberries) can be strung on a string to create a garland that will not only feed the birds, but also decorate the garden.

Boiled Rice

Leftover cooked brown or white rice often ends up in the kitchen, and rice porridge will also appeal to wild birds in your garden. Some species of birds, such as pigeons and turtledoves, are able to eat both raw brown and polished rice. However, other species are unlikely to enjoy it, as the grains will seem too hard to them.

Pasta

Leftover cooked pasta can also go into the feeder. In this case, the pasta should be soft, and before serving, they should be cut into small enough pieces so that the birds can hold them in their beaks. However, never give birds pasta that has been seasoned with rich sauces, hot spices, or melted sticky cheeses.

Vegetables

In the wild, birds eat a wide variety of plant foods, and sliced ​​vegetables can also be a welcome treat for them. Birds can be offered pumpkin, frozen green peas or corn (before putting them in the feeder, they should first be thawed). Pieces of canned vegetables from vegetable mixtures can also be occasionally offered to birds.

Salo

Due to its very high calorie content, lard is one of the best products on our table that can be offered to birds. This is an excellent winter food for birds! Lard is found in bird treats combined with a variety of ingredients, allowing it to be used to attract different types of birds.

Treats made from seeds, nuts, seeds and melted lard can be shaped into various shapes such as balls, bells and rings to enhance your bird feeding experience. You can also cut the lard into sticks or grate so that even more birds can taste it. Attention! Only unsalted lard is used to feed the birds!

Read also our article Flower garden for birds.

Lard as top dressing should be unsalted. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Boiled potatoes

It may seem implausible, but not only people but also birds like to eat potatoes. You can feed the birds leftover fried potatoes from your table, offer them mashed potatoes or a whole boiled potato. These dishes are guaranteed to be popular with your feathered friends. However, avoid processed potatoes such as potato chips.

Peanuts and various nuts

Peanuts are a high-calorie, high-fat food that attracts many wild birds, including jays, sparrows, and tits. Because nuts don't freeze to become hard, they're perfect for winter feeding, whether you offer shelled or shelled peanuts.

But never offer birds peanuts with any additives, or with chocolate or other coatings. Also be aware that peanuts can contain large amounts of a natural toxin that causes bird deaths. Therefore, it is ideal to buy a peanut that is designed specifically for feeding birds (can be found at a pet store). Other nuts such as almonds, walnuts and pecans are also attractive to birds. All nuts must be raw (not fried).

Oatmeal and flakes

Oatmeal is also great for many birds. Oatmeal can be a good source of nutritious food for the birds in your garden. Moreover, such top dressing is easily available and is often available in our kitchen. But still, it is best to use raw oats, including oatmeal, for feeding birds, as boiled oatmeal can harden around the bird's beak.

Cereals

Millet attracts mainly house sparrows, pigeons, finches and cane buntings (if they winter in your area). However, many ornithologists do not recommend feeding birds with millet, as it has few nutrients and quickly oxidizes in the open air, which is not good for birds. In its raw form, millet and wheat are suitable for birds. And almost any cereal boiled without salt can be used, including buckwheat.

Eggs and eggshells

Boiled chicken eggs can be added to the feeder as they contain many important nutrients for birds. Crushed eggshells are also good for birds, as they are an important source of calcium for all kinds of birds and help the digestion process well.

Pumpkin seeds

When cutting pumpkins, we often end up with a whole mountain of seeds, why not offer them to birds? Pumpkin seeds are very nutritious for birds, especially in autumn when they need more energy to migrate, molt and store fat to withstand the cold. Pumpkin seeds are high in carbohydrates and fats. They are a good source of protein, various micronutrients and nutrients that are essential for a complete diet for wild birds.

Raw seeds, just removed from the pumpkin, can be immediately poured into the feeder, or pre-dried. It is not necessary to grind the seeds, the birds themselves will cope with this task, tearing off pieces of the peel to get the pulp.

Rare species of birds can be seen near the feeders, for example, the grosbeak, which loves nuts. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

What should not be fed to birds?

Fruit pits or pome seeds

As mentioned above, most fruits are suitable for feeding birds, but it is important to avoid fruits that contain seeds or pits. If you are going to feed the birds in your garden with apples, pears, apricots, peaches, nectarines, or plums, be sure to completely remove any pits or seeds beforehand. The seeds and pits of these crops contain the toxic compound cyanide, but the seeded fruit is absolutely safe for birds to eat.

Dairy products

The digestive system of birds is not designed to properly digest milk. Eating dairy products can lead to stomach upset or even more serious health problems for birds, so never put a saucer of milk in the feeder.

Bread

Although bread is generally not harmful to birds, it is better not to feed them with bakery products in large quantities. Not only do they have a very low nutritional value, but they can also ferment in the digestive system of birds. This can lead to digestive problems up to the death of birds.

A small amount of dried crumbs will not bring any harm to birds. But it is better to use whole grain or white bread, while it should not contain spices and sweet additives. Moldy bread should never be offered to birds!

Chocolate

Just like us, birds can find it hard to resist chocolate or chocolate-containing products. However, even in very small amounts, chocolate can be toxic to birds. This is because chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which can cause birds to vomit, diarrhea, increase heart rate, leading to hyperactivity, seizures, and sometimes even death.

Salt

Salt is an important mineral for many birds. But just as an excess of salt is not good for humans, it is also bad for birds. And even just a little salt is potentially toxic to a small bird. For example, just one salty cracker or cracker can upset the water and electrolyte balance in the tiny body of a bird. This can lead to severe thirst, dehydration, kidney failure, and ultimately death of the bird.

Onions and garlic

Many people think that onions and garlic, like other vegetables, are good for birds. However, both raw and cooked, they are toxic to many animals and birds.

Learn more