Plants Toxic to Birds And Poisoning Symptoms


Toxic Plant	Toxic part(s)	Specific Toxin(s)	Symptoms
Avocado (Persea americana)	Pit, leaves, unripe fruit, stems	Unknown but related to cardiac toxicity	Weakness, inability to perch, labored breathing, feather fluffing
Black locust (Robina pseudoacacia)	Bark, leaves, seeds	Robitin, robin	Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, depression, collapse
Blue-green algae (Microcystis aeruginosa)	All parts	Anatoxin A, mycrocystin	Inability to swim or fly, abnormal posture, frequent defecation, respiratory arrest
Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopiea)	All parts	Oxalates	Oral irritation, difficulty swallowing, vomiting
Castor bean (Ricinus communis)	All parts	Ricin I & II, glycosidase	Vomiting, diarrhea (may be bloody) Note: similar symptoms may be seen with ingested prayer beans, rosary peas or Seminole beads used in beadwork and rattles)
Christmas cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)	All parts including tubers and unripened fruit	Solanine, atropine-like alkaloids, saponins	Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathng, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures
Coffee beans, (Sesbania drumundii), Tea, Chocolate Beans (coffee)	Leaves (tea), all chocolates especially dark	Caffeine, theobromine, theophylline	Nervous system stimulation, increased rate of breathing and heart rate, seizures, diarrhea
Diffenbachia (Diffenbachia spp.)	All parts	Oxalates	Oral irritation, difficulty swallowing, vomiting
Eggplant (Solanum melongena)	Stem, leaves, sprouts (ripe fruits are OK)	Solanine, atropine-like alkaloids	Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathng, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures
Elephant’s ear (Colocasia or Alocasia spp.)	All parts	Oxalates	Oral irritation, difficulty swallowing, vomiting
Ergot (Claviceps purpurea)	All parts	Ergopeptide alkaloids	Poor blood supply to extremities, hyperexcitability, seizures
Foxglove (Digitalis pupurea)	Entire plant, including water from pot or vase	Glycosides, digitalis	Vomiting, diarrhea, oral irritation, incoordination, irregular heart rate, collapse
Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)	All parts, including tubers, sprouts, and unripe berries	Solanine, atropine	Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathng, no urine production, paralysis, seizures
Jimsonweed (Datura spp.)	All parts, especially seeds and leaves	Atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine	Irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathng, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)	All parts	Cardiac glycosides: convallatoxin	Vomiting, diarrhea, oral irritation, incoordination, irregular heart rate, collapse
Locoweed (Astragalus emoryanus)	Leaves	Swainsonine, alkaloids	Hyperexcitability, incoordination, vomiting, drowsiness
Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)	All parts and latex (milky juice)	Cardenoloids (cardiac glycosides)	Oral and/or facial blisters, irregular heart rate, incoordination, collapse
Mistletoe (Phoradendron villosum)	All parts, especially holly berries	Viscumin, viscotoxin	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, irregular heart rate, collapse
Nightshade (Solanum spp.)	All parts	Belladonna, atropine-like alkaloids	Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathng, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures
Oak (Quercus spp.)	All parts	Tannins	Loss of appetite, diarrhea, increased thirst
Oleander (Nerium oleander)	All parts	Glycosides: oleadrum, neroside	Vomiting, diarrhea, oral irritation, incoordination, irregular heart rate, collapse
Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)	All parts, including roots	Oxalates	Oral irritation, difficulty swallowing, vomiting
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)	Roots, leaves, berries	Saponin	Vomiting, tremors, collapse
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)	Stem, leaves, sprouts, green skins	Solanine, atropine-like alkaloids	Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathng, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures
Rhododendron (Rhodedendron simsii), Rhododendron species (Azalea)	All parts	Andromedotoxin, grayanotoxin	Vomiting, weakness, collapse, seizure, stupor, coma
Tobacco (Nicotiana spp.)	All parts	Nicotine	Vomiting, diarrhea, hyperexcitability, seizures, muscle twitching, coughing, eye irritation
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)	Stem, leaves, sprouts (ripe fruits are OK)	Solanine, atropine-like alkaloids	Vomiting, diarrhea, irregular or rapid heart rate, difficulty swallowing, labored breathing, dilated pupils, no urine production, paralysis, seizures
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolio)	Berries, leaves	Oxalic acid	Vomiting, diarrhea (possibly bloody), drowsiness, stupor, renal failure
Yew (Taxus media)	Wood, bark, seeds, leaves	Alkaloids (taxines)	Muscle tremors, difficulty breathing, collapse, sudden death

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Safe Natural Woods for Perches or Toys

Alder
Almond
Apple
Apricot
Ash
Bamboo
Beech
Birch
Citrus
Dogwood
Elm
Eucalyptus*
Goat Willow
Guava
Grape
Honeysuckle
Mandrone
Manzanita
Maple (not red)
Mesquite
Oak*
Papaya
Pear
Pine
Poplar
Prune
Pussy Willow
Ribbon Wood
Thurlow
Vine Maple
Walnut
Weeping Willow
Willow

Toxic Natural Woods – DO NOT USE

Avocado
Boxwood
Cedar
Candelabra Tree
Cherry Tree
Chestnut
Chinaberry
Crown of Thorns
Eucalyptus*
Holly
Kentucky Coffee
Locust
Mountain Laurel
Oak*
Oleander
Pencil Tree
Rain Tree
Red Maple
Snow on Mountain
Spurges

Note: *Eucalyptus and Oak appear on both the toxic and the safe lists. In 9 out of 10 sources they were listed as safe. In one source they were listed as toxic. Because of this, we suggest that you use caution when using either one.