Birds may be exposed to a variety of toxins and poisons in their cages or as they explore or perch around your home.
Lead paint from foreign manufactured bird cage bars or toys, consuming too much salt from human snacks such as crackers or chips or chewing on pop cans may lead to death or thousands in veterinary bills. Look for bird cages, cage accessories and bird toys manufactured in the USA or by US manufacturers.
Look for these common symptoms of toxicity or poisoning. Depending on the toxin, your bird may display one or more of these common poisoning signs:
(The following is a list of some potentially toxic plants. Be sure you correctly identified all plants in your bird's environment.When using these lists, ensure you use the Scientific Name to identify Plants, if uncertain remove the plant )
(Abbreviations: Spp=subspecies, Sp=species)
Plant Name | Scientific Name | Parts Known to be Poisonous |
---|---|---|
Acokanthera | Acokanthera spp. | all parts toxic |
Amaryllis | Amaryllidaceae | Bulbs |
American Yew | Taxus canadensis | Needles, seeds |
Angel's Trumpet | Datura spp., | leaves, seeds, flowers |
Apricot | Prunus armeniaca, | pits, leaves, and bark |
* Autumn Crocus | Colchicum autumnalle | bulb |
Avocado | Persea americana | pit, leaves, unripe fruit, and stems |
Azalea | Rhododendron occidentale | Leaves |
Balsam pear | Memordica charantia | Seeds, outer rind of fruit |
Baneberry | Actaia spp. | Berries, roots |
Belladonna | Atropa belladonna | All parts |
Bird of Paradise | Caesalpina gilliesii | Seeds |
Bittersweet | Celastrus spp. | All parts |
Black Locust | Robinia pseudoacacia | Bark, sprouts, foliage |
* Bleeding Heart | Dicentra | all parts |
Bluegreen algae | Schizophycaea spp | Some forms toxic |
Bracken Fern | Pteridium aquilinum | All parts |
Some forms toxic Boxwood | Buxus sempervirens | Leaves, stems |
Buckthorn | Rhamnus spp. | Fruit, bark |
Burdock | Arctium spp. | All parts |
Buttercup | Ranunculus spp. | Sap, bulbs |
Calla lily | Zantedeschia aethiopica | Leaves |
Caladium | Caladium spp. | Leaves and rhizome |
Castor Oil Plant | Ricinus communis | Beans, leaves |
Catclaw Acacia | Acacia greggii, | twigs and leaves |
Chalice vine | Solandra spp. | All parts |
Cherry tree | Prunus spp. | Bark, twigs, leaves, pits |
Chinaberry | Melia azadarach | All parts |
Chokecherry | Birdcherry Prunus | seeds (stones), |
Christmas candle | Pedilanthus tithymaloides | Sap |
Clematis | Clematis spp. | All parts |
Coral plant | Jatropha multifida | Seeds |
Cowslip | Caltha polustris | Seeds |
Crocus (autumn) | Cholchicum autumnale | All parts |
Cycad, or Sago Cycas | Cycas revoluta | All parts |
Daffodil | Narcissus spp | Bulbs |
Daphne | Daphne spp. | Berries |
Datura | Datura spp. | Berries |
Deadly amanita | Amanita muscaria | All parts |
Death camas | Zygadenis elegans | All parts |
Delphinium | Delphinium spp. | All parts |
Devil's Ivy | Epipremnum aureum | All parts |
Dieffenbachia | Dieffenbachia picta | Leaves |
Eggplant | Solanaceae spp. | All parts but fruit |
Elderberry | Sambucus mexicana, | roots, leaves, stems, bark |
Elephant's ear (taro) | Colocasis spp. | Leaves, stem |
English ivy | Ilex aquafolium | Berries, leaves |
English yew | Taxus baccata | needles, seeds |
Euonymus | Euonymus spp. | fruit, bark, leaves |
European Pennroyal | Mentha pulegium | ![]() |
False henbane | Veratrum woodii | All parts |
Figs | Ficus spp | sap |
Fly agaric mushroom (deadly amanita) | Amanita muscaria | All parts |
Four o'clock | Mirabilis jalapa | All parts |
Foxglove | Digitalis purpurea | Leaves, seeds |
Golden chain (laburnum) | Laburnum anagyroides | All parts, especially seeds |
Heliotrope | Heliotropium spp., | leaves |
Hemlock | poison Conium spp. | All parts, especially roots and seeds |
Hemlock | water Conium spp. | All parts especially roots and seeds |
Henbane | Hyocyanamus niger | Seeds |
Holly | Ilex spp. | Berries |
Horse chestnut | Aesculus spp. | Nuts, twigs |
Horse Nettle | Solanum carolinense | All parts |
Hyacinth | Hyacinthinus orientalis | Bulbs |
Hydrangea | Hydrangea spp. | Flower,bud |
Indian turnip (jackinthepulpit) | Arisaema triphyllum | All parts |
Iris (blue flag) | Iris spp. | Bulbs |
Ivy (Boston, English, and some others) | Hedera spp. | All parts |
Japanese yew | Taxus cuspidata | Needles, seeds |
Java bean (lima bean) | Phaseolus lunatus | Uncooked beans |
Jerusalem cherry | Solanum pseudocapsicum | Berries |
Jessamine, Yellow | Gelsemium sempervirens, | leaves, stems |
Jonquil | Narcissus jonquilla | All parts |
Jimsonweed (thornapple) | Datura spp. | Leaves, seeds |
Juniper | Juniperus virginiana | Needles, stems, berries |
Lantana | Lantana spp. | Immature berries |
Larkspur | Delphinium spp. | All parts |
Laurel Kalmia, Ledum | Rhododendron spp. | All parts |
Lilly of the valley | Convallaria majalis | All parts, including the water in which they have been kept |
Lobelia | Lobelia spp. | All parts |
Locoweed | Astragalu mollissimus | All parts |
Lords and ladies (cuckoopint) | arum sp. | All parts |
Lupine | Lupinus spp. | All parts |
Marijuana | Cannabis sativa | Leaves |
Mayapple | Podophyllum spp. | All parts, except fruit |
Mescal bean | Sophora spp. | Seeds |
Mistletoe | Santalales spp. | Berries |
Milkweed | Asclepias spp. | All parts |
Mock orange | Poncirus spp. | Fruit |
Monkshood | Aconitum spp. | Leaves, roots |
Moonseed | Menispermum canadense | All parts |
Morning glory | Ipomoea spp. | All parts |
Mushrooms | Amanita spp. and many others | All parts |
Narcissus | Narcissus spp. | Bulbs |
Nightshades (all types) | Solanum spp. | Berries, leaves |
Oak | Quercus | acorn, young plant |
Oleander | Nerium oleander | Leaves, branches, nectar of blossoms |
Pennyroyal | Mentha pulegium | All parts |
Peach | Prunus persica, | leaves, pit, bark |
Peony | Paeonia officinalis | All parts |
Periwinkle | Vinca minor, Vinca rosea | All parts |
Peyote | Lophophora williamsii | All parts |
Philodendron | Philodendron spp. | Leaves, stems |
Pigweed | Amaranthus spp. | All parts |
Plum | Prunus spp., | leaves, pit, bark |
Poison Hemlock | Conium maculatum | All parts |
Poison ivy | Toxicodendron radicans | Sap |
Poison oak | Toxicodendron quercifolium | Sap |
Poison Sumac | Rhux vernix | All parts |
Poinsettia | Euphorobia pulcherrima | Leaves, flowers |
Pokeweed (inkberry) | Phytolacca americans | Leaves, roots, immature berries |
Poppy | Papaver somniferum and related spp. | All parts |
Potato | Solanum tuberosum | Eyes and new shoots |
Pothos | Eprimemnun aureum | All parts |
Primrose | Primula spp. | All parts |
Privet | Lingustrum volgare | All parts, includling berries |
Ragwort | Senecio jacobea and related spp. | All parts |
Red Maple | Acer rubrum | All parts |
Rhododendron | Rhododendron spp. | All parts |
Rhubarb | Rheum rhaponticum | Leaves |
Rosary pea (Indian licorice) | Abrus precatorius | Seeds |
Sage | Salvia officinalis | All parts |
Sedum | Sedum | All parts |
Shamrock Plant | Medicago lupulina, Trifolium repens, Oxalis acetosella | All parts |
Skunk cabbage | Symplocarpus foetidus | All parts |
Snowdrop | Ornithogalum umbellatum | All parts, especially buds |
Snow on the mountain (ghostweed) | Euphorbia marginata | All parts |
Sorrel | Rumex spp., Oxalis spp. | All parts |
Spindle Tree | Euonymus | leaves, fruit, bark |
Spurges | Euphorbia spp. | All parts |
Star of Bethlehem | Ornithogalum umbellatum | All parts |
Sweet pea | Lathryus latifolius | Seeds and fruit |
Tansy | Tanacetum vulgare | all parts |
Tobacco | Nicotinia spp. | Leaves |
Tomato | Lycopersicon esculentum | stems and leaves |
Tulip | Tulipa spp. | All parts |
Vetches | Vicia spp. | All parts |
Virginia creeper | Pathenocissu quinquefolia | Sap |
Water Hemlock | Cicuta spp. | ![]() |
Waxberry | Symphoricarpos albus | ![]() |
Western yew | Taxus breviflora | Needles, seeds |
Wisteria | Wisteria spp. | All parts |
Yam bean | Pachyrhizus erosus | Roots, immature pods |
What did you just spray, cook or clean? Has your bird ingested a poisonous substance. Try to recall exactly what may have poisoned your bird. Contact your
The best cure for poisoning is prevention. Bird-proof your home before your bird is exposed to or gets into a poisonous substance.
References:
http://www.theparrotsocietyuk.org/veterinary-advice/poisons-and-parrots
Avian First Aid DVD by Greg Burkett, DVM