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Can Birds Eat Avocado?

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I love avocados–so that means we sometimes have leftover avocado seeds and skins. When it comes to feeding avocado to birds, whether backyard birds or pet birds, you need to know that avocado is highly toxic to most bird species, and feeding it to birds can lead to serious health issues or even death.

photo of whole avocado and half of an avocado with a graphic of a red and yellow bird in center of image and words "can birds eat avocado" at top of image

Why Is Avocado Dangerous to Birds?

Avocado contains a substance called persin, a fatty acid derivative, which is harmless to humans (except in rare cases of allergy), but potentially deadly to birds.

Persin is found in the avocado pit, skin, leaves, and even in the edible part to varying degrees. The level of toxicity can vary based on the type of avocado and the individual bird, but the risk is significant enough that avocados should be universally avoided in the diet of any bird.

Symptoms of Avocado Poisoning in Birds

If a bird ingests avocado, the symptoms can appear rapidly, and can include:

  • Respiratory Distress: Difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, panting, or puffiness.
  • Physical Weakness: Lethargy, inability to perch, or uncoordinated movements.
  • Behavioral Changes: Agitation, shivering, or reluctance to eat.
  • Congestive Heart Failure: In severe cases, death can occur within 12 to 24 hours due to respiratory or heart failure.

Bird Species Susceptible to Avocado Toxicity

All bird species should be considered at risk for avocado poisoning, but pet birds like parrots, canaries, and finches are often reported in veterinary literature.

Backyard birds would likely not encounter avocado unless you’ve tossed it out, but they are not immune to its toxic effects. Don’t put avocados in your compost pile where birds can get to the skin and seeds!

Avocado poses a serious risk to birds and should be completely avoided in their diet. While we enjoy avocados for their taste and health benefits, the persin content can be lethal to birds. Keep the avocados for yourself and look to bird-safe foods to share out at your bird feeder!

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Paris Permenter
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