Table of Contents
Scientific Name: Myiopsitta monachus (Mouse-parrot monk)
Quaker parrots are under the denomination of birds that look like mice (myiopsitta), with their chubby cheeks and chin, and their name specifically invokes the religious group of monks (monachus, for the tonsure in the color of their heads) or the religious group of Quakers, for their white collars. However, despite being named for their “cute” or “virtuous” appearances, Quaker parrots will ravage everything you own. Banned in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wyoming (according to a quick Google search), they are an invasive species from the subtropics of South America known for ravaging rural crops and local flora.
And by local… you might even find some lurking in your homes. Quaker parrots are commonly kept as pets in homes wherever they are allowed by the law, and true to their reputation, the two of them have a habit of ravaging many a windowsill for the thrill, leaving shredded pieces of petal and green in the wake of their flight when we spot them in the act.
It was quite a headache when we first invited these birds into our home. I had many plants staggered about my living space, and unsatisfied with their existence, Ares would destroy them all. I tried to make the space as bird-friendly as possible, researching safe and unsafe plants on the toxicity charts on bird sites. Without really understanding the reason behind their toxicity, I mourned the loss of prized houseplants like my monstera and bird-of-paradise according to the whim of these lists, which were hardly comprehensive themselves, often listed in alphabetical order by common name (common names can refer to plants in different species).
Often, searching these lists was frustrating, because the information was often contradictory or regurgitated from other lists, with little explanation. Because it was difficult to remember each plant individually for its toxicity, I stood in plant stores for what felt like hours trying to match a listed plant to the one in front of me, and I didn’t know what to do when I couldn’t find it.
Eventually, I started making a mental list based on plant categories and reasons for toxicity. It was a list I wished I had when I started as a bird owner who loved plants, so I thought it might be helpful to put it here. Of course, this is not a comprehensive list, but a broad categorization of plants to watch out for, so it doesn’t substitute the lists I mentioned. It only makes it easier to remember plants categorically for their toxicity. This post is subject to change as I expand upon it over time.
Also, in case you want an immediate comprehensive list, I would recommend a few sites that list plants according to their scientific names (https://birdhism.com/blogs/news/common-bird-safe-house-plants), their general plant category (https://jayteesquakerparrots.blogspot.com/2010/02/toxic-plants.html), and their reason for toxicity (https://nwparrotrescue.org/important-documents/safe-or-toxic-natural-woods).
Toxic Plants
Why are some plants toxic, when birds originate from the wild, often from environments where those plants originated?
The answer is often secondary metabolites like alkaloids and glycosides.
Like melanin in humans, some secondary metabolites cause the plant to display vibrant colors like red or purple after exposure to UV light. However, others are responsible for the plant’s ability to interact with its environment regardless of its inability to move, including as a defense system.
For example, glycosides protect the plant against damage by healing damaged parts and defending against further damage. Most alkaloids (another secondary metabolite) are bitter and poisonous; this defends against harmful chomping. And though people often harvest and use these alkaloids for the effects the plants engineered to be toxic— some of these alkaloids being caffeine, cocaine, nicotine, etc.— we often keep them away from our animal freeloaders because people are the exception. Although we enjoy the effects in creative ways, these alkaloids harm even people in large quantities, and birds are especially susceptible because of their minuscule body mass.
Some common and dangerous plant/fungal defenses are as follows:
Aflatoxins / Hemagluttin
Type: Secondary metabolite / fungal toxin
Note: Fungi carrying these toxins appear on various crop plants, causing mutations or cancers, as well as liver and respiratory issues. This can be prevented by cooking out plants and seeds that might be afflicted. It’s important to note that pre-roasted beans and nuts can be unsafe for different reasons (like salting and factory additives)
Culprits: bean (raw plant/legume), corn, peanut (raw plant/ legume), cottonseed, sorghum/wheat (raw plant/wheat), and tree nut plants (raw plant/nut).
Allicin
Type: Thioester
Note: Allicin is a toxin that ruptures red blood cells and causes anemia in birds and other animals, which is why onions and garlic are often on the list of foods you shouldn’t feed to any pet— even compost worms find this genus offensive.
Culprit #1: Onions/Garlic (Family: Amaryllidaceae, Genus: Allium)
Includes: Allium, Chives, Garlic, Onion
Caffeine
Type: Alkaloid
Note: This one is simple. Caffeine overstimulates birds, who have a far smaller body mass and weaker hearts. Even small amounts of caffeine can cause irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), hyperactivity, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures/tremors, and heart attack.
Surprisingly other members of the coffee family (like gardenias, gallium, and woodruff/bedstraw), don’t tend to have caffeine and are generally safe for birds. The coffee plant itself is also safe for birds.
Culprit #1: Coffee Beans (Family: Rubiaceae, Genus: Coffea)
Calcium oxalate
Type: Alkaloid
Note: One of the more common alkaloids for indoor plants, calcium oxalate creates needle-like crystals that irritate and damage the entire GI tract of people and animals; additionally, it causes high blood pressure, which is especially dangerous to parrots like quaker parrots and amazons, who are prone to liver disorders. Even the pollen of these plants can lead to kidney failure, and consumption in humans can cause kidney stones (fun fact: people can combat some calcium oxalate consumption by drinking milk [calcium], though birds do not have this liberty).
Culprit #1: Ginseng Family (Family Araliaceae)
Includes: Ivy (Hedera), Umbrella plant (Schefflera, not to be confused with umbellifers like carrots and parsley), Fatsia (false castor bean: real castor bean is also highly toxic), Pennywort (hydrocotyle vulgaris, not to be confused with Gotu kola Centella asiatica)
Culprit #2: Arum Family (Family Araceae)
Includes: False lilies (Arum Lily, Calla Lily, Peace Lily), Anthurium (ie. Laceleaf), Caladium / Nephthytis (arrowhead plants, elephant ears), Pothos plants (Devil’s ivy), ZZ Plant (similar to zamia, which is also poisonous), Philodendron, Dieffenbachia (dumb cane plant), Chinese evergreen, Monstera
Culprit #3: Lily Family (Family Liliaeceae)
Includes: All lilies
Excludes: Aloe
Culprit #4: Grape (Family Vitaceae)
Includes: Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Excludes: Grape (Vitaceae vitus)
Cyanide
Type: Chemical compound
Note: A famous poison in mystery novels and wartime weapons, cyanide can in varying quantities be found in anything from molds to bacteria to plants, making it a bit more difficult to identify. Signs of cyanide poisoning include dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, and shock. For example, in the Rose family, the seeds generally have at least some traces of cyanide, and any distillation of the family’s plants contains prussic acid, a colorless, flammable, poisonous liquid with the chemical structure of cyanide.
Culprit #1: Rose (Family Rosaceae) Seeds* (other parts of the plant are generally safe for birds, excluding the thorns)
Includes: Apple (seeds), Rose (seeds), Peach/Plum/Apricot (pits), Rosaceae laurels (ex. cherry laurel [Prunus laurocerasus] and laurel cherry [Prunus lusitanica]; not to be confused with Lauraceae Laurels, which are also poisonous)
Exception 1: The apricot is an interesting case. The leaves, stems, and pits have some cyanide content (especially when wilting), but their bark supposedly neutralizes hydrogen cyanide.
Exception 2: Almonds have trace amounts of cyanide, but this is marginal enough that people often feed almonds to their parrots in small quantities (Ares and Athena stick to around half an almond, daily).
Culprit #2: Citrus Family (Family Rutaceae) seeds
Includes: grapefruit (considered to have tr
Culprit #2: Ornamental Grass (Family Poaceae)
Includes: Sorghum, Cassava root (tapioca), Flax, some ornamental grasses
Exception: Bamboos are generally considered safe (from my understanding, it is okay amongst houseplants or furniture, but not as a perch)
Culprit #3: Ergot (Family: Claviceps) Fungus
Note: this is not a plant, but as a fungus, it commonly appears on rye and ornamental grasses. Thus, even if your grass is not in the family Poaceae, you should approach it with caution.
Cycasin
Type: Glycoside
Note: This is a carcinogenic neurotoxin that is harmful to all animals. Symptoms include weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, and seizures.
Culprit #1: Cycads (Family: Cycadaceae and Zamiaceae, respectively)
Includes: Sago palm, zamia ZZ plant (similar to ZZ plant, which is also poisonous)
Diterpenoid Euphorbol Esters
Type: esters
Note: This is considered an irritant and co-carcinogen, causing blindness in some people. The sap can cause contact dermatitis. However, the potency of this toxin is often exaggerated in pet communities and needs to be consumed in large quantities to cause much concern. The definition of “large quantities” is disputed, which is why plants with this toxin should be approached with caution.
Culprit #1: Spurges (Family: Euphorbiaceae)
Includes: Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima), Pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli), Milky cactus (Euphorbia lactea / Euphorbia trigona), Common spurges (Euphorbia esula), Asthma plant (Euphorbia hirta), Myrtle spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites, not to be confused with myrtle.
Furanocoumarins
Type: secondary metabolite category
Note: This toxin, often excreted as a waxy surface on plant leaves, serves as a defense mechanism and a fungicide for plants, but has phytotoxic and chemically disruptive effects in animals, which one source claims can cause paralysis in birds. Even in people, this toxin can cause severe dermatitis with exposure to UV light and can disrupt the normal function of medication. The amount of furanocoumarins in plants varies greatly based on plant type. For example, the Carrot family (Umbelliferae), Pea family (Fabaceae), and Citrus family (Rutaceae) contain levels of furanocoumarins but are still considered safe for birds (excluding the presence of aflatoxins in fungal presences on the Pea family)
Culprit #1: Certain essential oils (normal concentrations are usually not too harmful to birds or humans)
Includes: Tea tree oil, citrus tree oil
Culprit #2: Fig Family (Family: Moraceae, Genus: Ficus)
Includes: Fig tree, Weeping fig (ficus benjamina)
Note: While the fruit is completely safe for birds, some sites argue that the ficus tree sap contains harmful levels of furanocoumarins, while others claim that it is completely safe; this means there have been several reports of parrot exposure to ficus sap, with little immediate consequence, though the long-term effects of the disruptive quality of the toxin toward the body’s chemicals (and reports of paralysis due to overexposure) cause many parrot owners to be weary. Some other members of the family (like the mulberry) are considered safe despite their production of similar white sap.
Grayanotoxins
Type: neurotoxin
Note: Grayanotoxins mess with sodium ion channels and muscarinic receptors, causing cardiac and respiratory disorders and death; the problem with this toxin is that honey made from the nectar of grayanotoxin-carrying plants can cause the same symptoms.
Culprit #1: Rhododendron family (Family: Ericaceae)
Includes: Azaleas, Cranberries, Huckleberries, Heather, Rhododendrons
Culprit #2: Laurel family (Family Rosaceae, not to be confused with Lauraceae, also poisonous)
Leurocristine/Vincristine
Type: Alkaloid
Note: While this neurotoxin is used in medicinal settings as an immunosuppressant and against mitosis/cell division (which can be useful against cancer, making it listed in WHO’s essential medicines), it has immediate adverse effects on the body that causes headaches, mucositis, constipation, and vomiting, as well as hair loss and pregnancy-related issues.
Culprit #1: Periwinkle (Family Apocynaceae Genus Vinca)
Includes: Creeping myrtle (Vinca Minor), Periwinkle
Lycorine
Type: Alkaloid
Note: This toxin has antiparasitic properties in plants and possible anticancer properties but can be deadly in large doses, which is the second reason members of the amaryllis family should be avoided
Culprit #1: Amaryllis family (family: Amaryllidaceae)
Includes: Amaryllis, Clivias, Daffodil, false lilies
Persin
Type: fatty acid derivative
Note: Persin has fungicidal properties. In birds, it can cause heart failure, respiratory distress, and sudden death, though parrot owners dispute the lethal dosage. However, even if a parrot presents prominent symptoms, persin causes myocardial necrosis (cell death), which precludes caution.
Culprit #1: True Laurels (Family Lauraceae)
Includes: Avocado, Bay Laurels
Note: in avocado, it is mainly active in the leaves, which may be why some parrots don’t seem to mind the fruit, but it still poses a risk, especially to birds like quaker parrots, who are prone to liver disease and clogged arteries.
Protoanemonin (and Aconitine)
Type: Glycoside
Note: As an irritant, this oil causes various degrees of contact dermatitis and eye irritation, depending on exposure. If ingested, it can irritate the entire gastrointestinal tract, which cannot readily absorb the toxin, causing blisters, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. The Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) generally carries this toxin; however, the genus aconitum (aconite) features a far more dangerous neurotoxin, which is so toxic that its mythology lands it in the depths of hell, where aconite is said to come from the drool of Cerberus (the three-headed guard dog of the Underworld).
Culprit #1: The Buttercup Family (Family: Ranunculaceae)
Includes: Aconite (ie Monkshood, Wolfsbane, etc.; Aconitum), Anemone (Anemone), Baneberry (Actaea), Clematis (Clematis), Columbine (Aquilegia), etc.
Pyrrolizidine
Type: Alkaloid
Pyrrolizidine is hepatoxic and can cause severe liver damage and cancer in birds.
Culprit #1: Borage (Family Boraginaceae)
Includes: Borage, Comfrey, Forget-me-not, Heliotrope
Solanine
Type: Saponin
Prevalent in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), this pesticidal saponin causes respiratory and gastrointestinal distress. Symptoms of ingestion include diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, irregular heart rate or breathing, dilated pupils, vomiting, paralysis, and seizures. Although people in some cultures eat pepper plant leaves, the plant is generally toxic to people and birds.
Culprit #1: Nightshade Family (Family: Solanaceae)
Includes: Belladonna, Angel Trumpet, Morning Glory; Goldenberries (plants), Peppers (plants), Tomatoes (plants)
Tannin
Type: Polyphenol
Note: This one’s a bit of a cop-out. Tannins are toxic in large quantities, but even most high-tannin woods like oak won’t be overtly harmful to birds and are often added to the list of safe woods for birds. However, a large number of toxic polyphenols can lead to negative effects such as nausea, purple urine, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, and liver damage. In a lot of cases, it isn’t one defined polyphenol that is toxic, but high doses of multiple toxins, which can serve as fumigants and repellents. High doses of polyphenol supplements can cause tannin poisoning, kidney damage, tumors, and an imbalance in thyroid hormone levels.
Culprit #1: Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae Myrtus)
Includes: Paperbark myrtle (Melaleuca quinquenervia), Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
Excludes: Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia, not real myrtle)
Exception #1: Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae Eucalyptus)
Note: There are a couple of theories for why eucalyptus is sometimes labeled as unsafe for birds. It may have been because eucalyptus falls under the Myrtaceae family. Another was a prediction that the plant’s nectar clogged bird nostrils or throats. Another source claims that oils disrupt gastrointestinal functions. However, people often give their eucalyptus to their birds daily with no negative effect. Thus, empirically, this is generally considered safe.
Exception #2: Oak
Note: oak is famous for its tannins, but it is generally considered safe unless in large quantities. Large quantities are relative, many people often use oak branches as bird perches.
Theobromine
Type: Alkaloid
Note: Like caffeine, this toxin is a stimulant and dilator (theobromine is considered more potent than caffeine). It causes irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), hyperactivity, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures/tremors, and heart attacks.
Culprit #1: Mallow Family (Family: Malvaceae), only when theobromine or related alkaloids are present.
Includes: Cacao, Kola Nut, Mallow, Wax Mallow, Black tea leaves
Excludes: Hibiscus, Hollyhock, Linden Tree (some people dispute its use as a mild painkiller for birds ), Okra, Durian, and related plants
Culprit #2: Citrus Family (Family: Rutaceae), though they have very trace amounts of the toxin, making them only toxic in large amounts and should not be too much of a concern in the home.
Culprit #3: Certain Cosmetics
General Caution
Plants themselves may not be the only problem, though, and it might help to rule out other issues around the house before you come across a crux between causes of a concerning symptom. In general, it would be safe to assume that anything harmful to people in large quantities would likely be harmful to birds in much smaller quantities due to their weight class.
For example, salt in large quantities can cause an upset in a person’s electrolyte balance, and large amounts of fat can lead to artery clogs; high sugar content can also harm blood sugar levels. The threat of taking too much salt, sugar, or fat is exponentially greater to birds due to the high level of these additives to modern processed foods, and because they need a lot less of it to feel the adverse effects. This is especially true for amazons and Quaker parrots due to their tendency toward fatty liver disease.
Likewise, alcohol can depress organs in both people and parrots, in vastly different amounts. Certain toxins found in misidentified mushrooms can lead to liver failure, and a mushroom toxin that can be forgivable in humans may not be as forgivable in birds.
While people can be harmed by an excess of chemicals like detergents or solutions, the effects are more greatly felt by birds, leading to the warning to keep birds away from leather, preservatives, window cleaners, and pesticides. However, many things can have traces of heavy metals like copper, lead, and zinc— due to the regulations before 1986, a building older than this might have trace lead in wall paint or plumbing (water) or wires. Old bird toys or soldering, as well as newspapers and pencils before 1986, might be held under scrutiny. Older items around the house should likely be inspected, replaced, or thrown out safely. If you do not catch the issue before the symptoms, you might find some symptoms of nerve damage, including vomiting, maldigestion, imbalance, clenched toes, and seizures.
Finally, bird lungs are far more sensitive than those of humans, and fumes with hydrocarbon particles or toxins can cause both anthracosis and sooty black spots in the lungs) or sudden reactions and death. Teflon is a well-known airborne toxin to birds, as well as aerosols and air fresheners. Even lighting too many candles around the bird can prove to be harmful over time.
The Gray Area
Some people dispute the toxicity of specific plants because of their dosage of specific toxins, or because of the lack of evidence to prove their harmfulness toward birds. In some cases, a substance is merely considered unsafe for birds because they cause negative symptoms in other animals. For example, people argue about whether xylitol is safe because of its negative effects on dogs.
A lot of the time, these plants are repeated on bird toxicity lists based on simple hearsay (often from other bird toxicity lists), but may not be cause for panic. However, these things are relative, and should perhaps be approached with some caution. So, these may be okay in the living room or front yard, but may not be okay in the cage, the bird room, or in the house in large quantities.