Toxic foods for large parrots (African grey, Amazon, macaw)
The African grey, the Amazon and the macaw are curious, food-loving parrots, quick to taste whatever their human is eating. That is exactly what puts them at risk: several everyday foods are toxic to them. The toxicity of avocado in birds, linked to persin, and that of chocolate, due to theobromine, are documented in avian veterinary literature (research on Google Scholar). Knowing these forbidden items means avoiding an irreversible accident. Find our other pointers in the bird feeding section.
Foods to ban absolutely
Top of the list, avocado: its persin can cause fatal cardiac distress, even in small amounts. Next come chocolate and anything containing caffeine (coffee, tea, soft drinks), whose alkaloids are highly toxic to such a small body. Also ban alcohol, excess salt, raw onion and garlic, as well as xylitol, the sweetener found in some chewing gums and processed pastries.
The lesser-known traps
Apple pips and the stones of cherry, apricot or peach contain cyanogenic compounds: give the flesh, never the pips or stones. Also beware of overly fatty or salty foods from our table: a parrot fed on human leftovers quickly slides towards obesity and liver disorders, a risk already real with overly fatty rations, as we explain for the macaw and fats. Finally, watch out for overheated non-stick pans, whose fumes kill birds without them swallowing anything.
What to give instead
The base of a good ration remains a mix of quality pellets, rounded out with safe fruits and vegetables. Many parrots are hooked on fatty seeds (sunflower, peanut): it is better to rebalance their diet, as detailed in our guide on balanced feeding of the Amazon. For the list of permitted plants, see safe fruits and vegetables for birds. A well-fed and well-equipped parrot is less bored: also think of the essential accessories for large parrots.
Frequently asked questions
My parrot pecked a forbidden food, what do I do?
Contact an avian vet without delay, even in the absence of symptoms: for avocado or chocolate, every minute counts.
Is bread dangerous?
It is not toxic in itself, but of no nutritional value and often too salty. Better to avoid it and favour fruit, vegetables and pellets.
Can you share a meal with your parrot?
Only safe foods, unsalted and unseasoned (a piece of plain cooked vegetable, for example). Never prepared dishes.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Birds universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.