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 | ||
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.
Toxic Plants
- Acokanthera
- Amaryllis
- Angel’s Trumpet
- Apricot Seeds (Plant)
- Apple Seeds (Plant)
- Avocado
- Balsam Pear
- Baneberry
- Belladonna (Nightshade)
- Bird of Paradise
- Bittersweet
- Black Locust
- Boxwood
- Bracken Fern
- Buckthorn
- Burdock
- Buttercup
- Caladium
- Calla Lily
- Cat Claw Acacia
- Caster Bean
- Cherry Pits (Plant)
- Chinaberry
- Clematis
- Coffee Bean
- Coral Plant
- Crocus
- Cactus (Sago Cactus)
- Daphne
- Death Camas
- Delphinium
- Devil’s Ivy
- Dieffenbachia
- Eggplant
- Elderberry
- Elephant’s Ears
- European Pennyroya
- Figs
- Four O’Clocks
- Foxglove
- Heliotrope
- Henbane
- Holly
- Horse Chestnut
- Horse Nettle
- Hydrangea
- Ivy
- Jack-in-the-Pulpit
- Jerusalem Cherry
- Jasmine (Yellow)
- Jimson Weed
- Jonquil
- Lantana
- Lorel
- Lily of the Valley
- Lobelia
- Loco Weed
- Lupine
- Marijuana
- Mistletoe
- Mock Orange
- Monkshood
- Morning Glory
- Mushroom
- Narcissus
- Oak
- Oleander
- Pear Seeds (Plant)
- Peony
- Periwinkle
- Peyote
- Philodendron
- Pigweed
- Plum
- Poison Hemlock
- Poison Ivy
- Poison Oak
- Poison Sumac
- Poinsettia
- Poppy
- Pokeweed
- Potato Eye
- Pothos
- Primrose
- Privet
- Ragwort
- Red Maple