Can Birds Eat Cashews?

Are you thinking of sharing your cashews with your feathered friends and wondering if birds can eat cashews? The good news is that birds can eat cashews–but there are important considerations to keep in mind and some forms of cashews that you should NOT share. Let’s delve into which wild birds are likely to enjoy cashews, what forms of cashews to avoid, and the necessary precautions to ensure their safety.

Which Birds Eat Cashews?

Several backyard birds are likely to give cashews a try! These include:

Jays: Known for their love of nuts, jays can often be seen enjoying cashews.
Woodpeckers: These birds also enjoy a variety of nuts, including cashews.
Titmice: Small yet adventurous with their food choices, titmice may sample cashews.
Nuthatches: These birds are adept at handling nuts and may enjoy cashews.
Cardinals: While not their primary food choice, cardinals may partake in cashews.
Parrots: In more tropical areas, parrots are known to enjoy a variety of nuts, cashews included.

Forms of Cashews Birds Should Not Eat

Before we look at the best ways to share cashews at the bird feeder, let’s look at the forms of cashews and which ones are or aren’t safe for birds.

Birds should only be given unsalted and unseasoned cashews. Salt and other seasonings can be harmful to birds. Either raw or roasted cashews are fine, but avoid oil-roasted cashews due to the added fats. Those fats are far more likely to make the cashews rancid, too.

You can serve the cashews either whole or in pieces although, for smaller birds, cashew pieces are easier to eat.

You DON’T want to serve any cashews with chocolate coatings. Chocolate is toxic for birds–so keep those cashews for yourself!

Similarly, don’t serve butter toffee cashews, vanilla rum cashews, honey roasted cashews or any of the other coated cashews at the birdfeeder. Those are just for you!

And, as always, never serve rancid foods at the feeder.

Feeding cashews to wild birds can be a delightful way to supplement their diet with a nutritious snack. As always, ensure that birds have access to fresh water and a variety of foods to maintain a balanced diet.

Which Birds Eat Cashews?

Forms of Cashews Birds Should Not Eat

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