Ten foods toxic to birds include things that some of us eat every day. Birds’ digestive systems, however, differ from ours greatly, and care needs to be taken to avoid foods that could harm or kill your feathered friend.

1. Alocohol

   It may seem like an obvious warning to say that you should never feed alcoholic beverages to your bird. Keep in mind, though, that an uncaged bird may help herself to a glass of wine or cocktail left on a table.

2. Avocados

   Some types of avocados are toxic to birds, so all types should be avoided. Most problems stem from the skin and pit of the avocado, but a prudent bird owner will avoid feeding avocados in any form to his bird.

3. Caffeine

   Coffee, tea, soda, and other caffeinated drinks can have a harmful effect on your bird’s cardiac functions, and should always be avoided. As with alcoholic beverages, be sure to monitor your uncaged bird when caffeinated beverages are being consumed to ensure she doesn’t help herself to an unattended soda.

4. Chocolate

   Never feed a bird chocolate; this is toxic to most birds even in small quantities. As a general rule, the darker the chocolate, the higher the toxicity.

5. Dried Beans

   Although cooked beans are perfectly safe for most birds, dried beans are very dangerous. Dried beans contain hemaglutin, a poison that is toxic for most breeds of bird. Cooking beans removes the hazard, but raw beans should never be served to a bird.

6. Fruit Seeds

   Some fruit seeds contain dangerous chemicals or compounds, so fruit seeds should be removed before the fruit is fed to the birds. One example apple seeds which contain cyanide. The pits of peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries may be dangerous as well and should be removed before these fruits are fed to pet birds.

7. Mushrooms

   Mushrooms, and other fungi can cause illness in some birds. Some breeds are especially sensitive to the caps and stems of some mushrooms which can cause liver problems and even liver failure.

8. Onions

   Although your bird may not mind getting bad breath from onions, she will almost certainly not enjoy the illness onions can cause. While some bird owners feel small amounts of onion can be used for flavoring, excess intake can lead to blood disorders and even death.

9. Salt

   While most responsible bird owners would never consider feeding their pet straight salt, some may fail to recognize the high sodium content in some foods. Watch out for foods that contain salt, and minimize them in your bird’s diet.

10. Tomato Leaves and Stems

    Although tomatoes themselves are fine for birds, the stems, leaves, and vines can be toxic. Be sure to wash all tomatoes well, and feed only the red fruit itself to your bird.

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