Plants Toxic to Birds
| 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 |
| Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcheriama) | Leaves, stem, white sap | Phorbol esters | Vomiting, diarrhea, facial or eye irritation |
| 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 breathng, 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 |