Many birds naturally eat plants as part of their diet. Some birds will chew on and possibly consume plants in the course of playing. Birds left unsupervised out of their cage may easily encounter plants kept around the house and in the garden. It is important for owners to be aware of which plants are toxic to birds.
Few actual studies are available in regard to plant toxicity and birds, so we must extrapolate from information about harmful effects pertaining to other animal species, including humans.
The following list of indoor and outdoor plants is an attempt to catalogue the plants considered to be potentially toxic. Pot plants with milky sap should be avoided. If there is concern regarding specific plants not listed here, then consult your local veterinarian, Poisons Information Centre, your state or territory animal health service or a reputable plant nursery for more information. Some plants have been included on this list even if there is a remote possibility of concern.
| Amaryllis |
American Yew |
| Autumn Crocus (Meadow Saffron) |
Avocado |
| Azalea |
Balsam Pear |
| Baneberry |
Bean Plants |
| Bird of Paradise |
Black Elderberry (not berry) |
| Black Locus |
Bleeding Heart |
| Bloodroot |
Blue-green Algae |
| Boxwood |
Bracken Fern |
| Buckthorn |
Bulb Flowers |
| Burdock |
Buttercup |
| Caladium |
Calla Lily |
| Castor Bean (Castor Oil Plant) |
Chalice Vine |
| Cherry Trees (Not pulp of fruit) |
Christmas Candle |
| Christmas Cherry (berries) |
Clematis |
| Coffee Plants |
Comfrey |
| Coral Plant |
Cowslip |
| Crotacaria Sp. |
Crown Vetch |
| Cycads |
Daffodil |
| Daphne |
Datura (berries) |
| Death Amanita |
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane or Leopard Lily) |
| Egg-Plant |
Elderberry |
| Elephant’s Ear (Taro) |
English Holly |
| English Yew |
Eucalyptus |
| Euonymus |
Evergreen (most) |
| False Hellebore |
Felt Plant |
| Firethorn |
Flame Tree |
| Fly Agaric Mushrooms |
Foxglove |
| Golden Chain |
Hemlock |
| Henbane |
Holly |
| Honey Locust |
Honeysuckle |
| Horse Beans |
Horse Chestnut |
| Hyacinth |
Hydrangea |
| Indian Turnip |
Iris |
| Ivy |
Jack-In-The-Pulpit |
| Japanese Yew |
Jasmine |
| Java Bean (Glorybean) |
Jerusalem Cherry |
| Jimson weed |
Juniper |
| Lantana |
Larkspur |
| Laurels |
Lily-Of-The-Valley |
| Lobelia |
Locoweed |
| Locusts |
Lords-and-Ladies |
| Lupins |
Marijuana |
| May Apple |
Mescal Bean |
| Milkweed |
Mistletoe |
| Mock Orange |
Monkshood |
| Moonseed |
Morning Glory |
| Mountain Laurel |
Narcissus |
| Nettles |
Nightshade |
| Nutmeg |
Oleander |
| Periwinkle |
Philodendron |
| Pigweed |
Poinsettia |
| Poison Hemlock |
Poison Ivy |
| Poison Oak |
Pokeweed |
| Potato (new shoots) |
Privet |
| Purple Sesbane |
Rain Tree |
| Red Maple |
Rhododendron |
| Rhubarb (leaves) |
Rosary Peas |
| Sandbox Tree |
Skunk Cabbage |
| Snow Flake |
Snow-On-The-Mountain |
| Snowdrop |
Sorrel Spurges |
| Spindle Tree (berries) |
Sweet Pea (plant) |
| Tobacco |
Vetch |
| Virginia Creeper |
Water Hemlock |
| Wattle |
Western Yew |
| White Cedar |
Wisteria |
| Yam Bean |
Yew |