Safe Plants and Toxic Plants

Plants not only add aesthetic value to an otherwise sterile-looking enclosure, but they also provide a more natural, engaging, and secure environment for the inhabitants to enjoy. Using plants to create visual barriers within the flight may help reduce aggression among cagemates by providing objects for the birds to hide behind.⁵ This in turn helps to make the birds feel more secure, and may therefore result in reduced stress levels. Foliage in the cage gives the birds something to occupy themselves with--birds often chew on, play within, and even build nests out of plants placed in their living space.

For this reason, care must be taken when selecting plants to decorate a flight. Both live and fake plants may be used, but all parts of the plant must be safe and nontoxic. The best fake plants to use are constructed of untreated silk and plastic. Make sure the silk plants do not have any components that may be easy for a bird to consume, tangle itself in, get caught on, or stuck by. Treated wood baskets and paper plants may be hazardous choices and are not recommended for decorating flights. Two benefits of using silk plants are: 1) they are not as easily destroyed by the birds, and 2) they can be scrubbed clean and disinfected as needed.

Live plants tend to demand more upkeep and may need to be replaced more frequently, as finches often love to pick them apart. Try to obtain plants that have not been sprayed with any pesticides or chemicals, and be sure to rinse the plants off before placing them in and around the flight. Do not add any fertilizers to the soil (they are toxic);⁶ if fertilizers are already present in the soil, repot the plant with uncontaminated soil. Leaving each plant in its pot is suggested, in case a plant dies and needs to be removed.

Helpful Hints⁴¹

Placement
Plantings should be spaced appropriately to allow room for flight paths and to permit the birds to access to the floor of the enclosure. Walk-in enclosures should also have planned pathways for birdkeeper access. Be careful to provide climbing vines with trellis to support the weight of their growth; otherwise they could break the aviary mesh and allow escape of the birds.

Selection
Aside from ensuring that the plant(s) you have selected are non-toxic, try to avoid purchasing plants which are tall and rapidly-growing as these will require constant pruning. In addition to considering what plants are best suited for your area, don't forget to also consider the needs of the birds. Avadavats and Munias enjoy climbing small bamboos and grasses, for example, Munias and Mannikins prefer to weave their nests into grass clumps, and Weavers need palm leaves and broad-leafed grasses for nesting material.

Timing of Live Plantings
Plants should be added to the enclosure as it is being completed. The plants should be allowed to grow sufficiently before adding the birds; this way, the plants will be better able to withstand being nibbled on. Ideally plants should produce their densest foliage while the birds are nesting.

Safe Aviary Plants^25,17

When choosing plants for your aviary, consult a botanist or experienced gardener who can help you select plants which are suitable for planting in your locale (considering your hardiness zone, soil type, sun exposure, etc.). Below are some options which have been listed as safe for birds.

Plants which are generally considered safe.
Bougainvillea	Dogwood	Boston Fern
Bougainvillea spp.	Cornus spp.	Nephrolepsis bostoniensis
Dandelion	Marigold	Magnolia
Taraxacum officinalis	Tagetes spp.	Magnolia spp.
Petunia	Umbrella Tree	Bird's Nest Fern
Petunia spp.	Schefflera spp.	Asplenium nidus

Note: Please be aware that roses and bougainvillea have thorns.

Outdoor Plants

Trees & Shrubs
Acacia
Almond
Arbutus
Ash
Aspen
Autumn olive
Bayberry
Birch
Bladdernut
Blueberry
Camellia
Cottonwood
Dogwood
Elm
Fir (balsam, douglas, subalpine, white)
Forsythia
Fuchsia
Guava
Hawthorn
Larch
Madrona
Magnolia
Mango (zone 9+)
Manzanita
Mountain ash
Nectarine
Papaya (zone 10+)
Pear (as long as the seeds aren't eaten)
Pine (ponderosa, spruce, Virginia, white)
Pittosporum (zone 9+)
Poplar
Pyracantha
Raspberry
Rose
Rubus odoratus
Spruce (black, Norway, red, white)
Viburnum
White poplar

Vines
Bougainvillea (can also be grown as shrub or small tree)
Grape vine
Russian Vine (Polygonum baldschuanicum)

Grasses & Herbs
Bamboo
Oregano
Rosemary
Thyme

Ground Cover and Short Plants
Baby's tears aka Polka Dot Plant (Helxine soleirolii)
Chickweed
Creeping jenny (Lysimachia)
Dandelion
Marigold
Mother of pearl
Nasturtium (zone 9+)
Petunia
Piggyback begonia (Begonia hispida variant Cucullifera)
Piggyback plant
Plectranthus (zone 9+)
Sedum
Thistle
White clover

Indoor Plants (Safe Houseplants) and Tropical Plants

African violet (Saintpaulia spp., Episcia reptans)
Aluminum plant (Pilea cadierei)
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Bloodleaf
Bromeliads
Burro's tail
Cactus (except pencil, peyote, mescaline, candelabra)
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
Cissus: Danish ivy aka Grape Ivy (Cissus rhombifolia), Kangaroo vine (Cissus antarctica)
Emerald ripple peperomia
Flame nettle (Coleus sp.)
Gold-fish plant
Hens & chickens
Lipstick plant
Madagascar jasmine
Monkey plant
Nerve plant
Palms:

Potted palms provide privacy around the nest.
• Areca (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
• Bamboo (Chamaedorea erumpens)
• Butterfly Cane
• Canary Island (Phoenix canariensis)
• Date
• European Fan (Chamaerops humilis)
• Fishtail
• Golden Feather
• Paradise/Kentia (Howea foresterana)
• Parlor (Chamaedorea elegans)
• Lady (Raphis excelsa)
• Madagascar
• Miniature Fan
• Phoenix
• Pygmy Date
• Robelein Lady
• Sentry
• Wine

Peacock plant (Calathea)
Pepperomia (Pepperomia sp.)
Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)
Purple Passion aka Velvet Plant (Gynura aurantiaca)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Swedish ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus)
Wandering jew (Tradescantia sp.) including Giant white inch plant
Wax plant (Hoya carnosa)
Zebra plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)

Plants which Allow for Perching
Dwarf or Hawaiian Schefflera (Schefflera arboricola)
Umbrella tree/Schefflera (Brassaia actinophylla)
False aralia

Toxic Plants

Plant toxicosis in birds occurs if they chew on or ingest toxic plants. The toxic reaction can be due to pesticide residues on the plants, or to toxins within the plants themselves. Birds which chew on toxic plants may develop oral irritation; if they ingest enough, systemic clinical signs can occur such as vomiting or diarrhea. There is likely significant species differences in sensitivity,¹⁶ and studies are lacking. However, plants which have been reported as toxic in some birds, or which are considered to be potentially toxic include:^{6,25,52,29,56,16,17,28}

Common Name	Scientific Name	Poisonous Part	Symptoms
Aconite	Aconitum sp.	all parts
Agapanthus	Agapanthus sp.	sap
Amaryllis	Amaryllidaceae	bulbs
American yew	Taxus canadensis	needles, seeds
Apple		seeds
Apricot		pits
Arrowhead vine	Syngonium podophyllum	leaves
Arum Lily	Arum sp.	all parts
Autumn crocus	Colchicum autumnale	all parts
Avocado	Persea americana	pits, skin, flesh	Reduced activity, inability to perch, fluffing feathers, labored breathing, rapid death, generalized tissue congestion.
Azalea	Rhododendron occidentale	leaves
Balsam pear	Memordica charantia	seeds, fruit rind
Baneberry	Actaia sp.	berries, roots
Bay tree	Laurus nobilis
Beans		all types if uncooked
Belladonna	Atropa belladonna	all parts
Bird of paradise	Caesalpina gilliesii	seeds
Bishop's weed	Ammi majus
Bittersweet nightshade	Solanum dulcamara	immature fruit
Black locust	Robina pseudoacacia	bark, sprouts, foliage
Blue-green algae	Schizophycaea sp.	some forms toxic	Hepatotoxic, lethal respiratory arrest.
Boxwood	Buxus sempervirens	leaves, stems
Buckthorn	Rhamnus sp.	fruit, bark
Burdock	Arctium minus
Buttercup	Ranunculus sp.	sap, bulbs
Caladium	Caladium sp.	leaves
Calla lily	Zantedeschia aethiopica	leaves	Severe irritation of mucous membranes, edema & irritation may take weeks to subside; severe dyspnea; severe keratoconjunctivitis if plant juices contact eyes. Vomiting, diarrhea.
Camel bush	Trichodesma incanum
Candelabra cactus	Euphorbia lactea	sap
Castor bean or Castor oil plant	Ricinus communis	beans, leaves	Vomiting, diarrhea (possibly bloody), necrosis of organs (liver, spleen, lymph nodes, stomach, intestine) in mammals.
Chalice vine	Solandra sp.	all parts
Cherry		bark, twigs, leaves, pits
Cherry laurel	Prunus laurocerasus	clippings release cyanide fumes
Chinese evergreen	Aglaonema modestum	all parts
Christmas candle	Pedilanthus tithymaloides	sap
Chrysanthemum	Chrysanthemum sp.	leaves, stems, flowers
Clematis	Clematis sp.	all parts
Coffee bean	Sesbania sp	seeds	Gastroenteritis, can be fatal. Hyperthermia, hypertension, hyperactivity, seizures, tachycardia.
Coral plant	Jatropha multifida	seeds
Cowslip	Caltha polustris	all parts
Croton	Codiaeum sp.	sap
Crown of thorns	Euphorbia milii	sap
Daffodil	Narcissus sp.	bulbs
Daphne	Daphne sp.	berries
Datura	Datura sp.	berries
Deadly amanita	Amanita muscaria	all parts
Death camas	Zygadenis elegans	all parts
Delphinium	Delphinium sp.	all parts
Diffenbachia or Dumb cane	Dieffenbachia picta, sp.	leaves	Severe irritation of mucous membranes, edema & irritation may take weeks to subside; severe dyspnea; severe keratoconjunctivitis if plant juices contact eyes. Vomiting, diarrhea.
Eggplant	Solanaceae sp.	all parts except fruit
Elephant's ear	Colocasis sp. or Alocasia sp.	leaves, stems	Severe irritation of mucous membranes, edema & irritation may take weeks to subside; severe dyspnea; severe keratoconjunctivitis if plant juices contact eyes. Vomiting, diarrhea.
English ivy	Ilex aquafolium	berries, leaves
English yew	Taxus baccata	needles, seeds
Ergot	Claviceps purpurea	present in poorly stored seed, silage, dog food	Gangrene, hyperexcitability, seizures.
Euonymus	Euonymus sp.	all parts
False henbane	Veratrum woodii	all parts
Flamingo flower	Anthurium sp.	leaves, stems
Foxglove	Digitalis purpurea	leaves, seeds	Digitalis glycoside - vomiting, bradycardia, arrhythmias, heart block
Golden chain	Laburnum anagyroides	all parts
Hemlock (poisoin and water)	Conium sp.	all parts
Henbane	Hyocyanamus niger	seeds
Holly	Ilex sp.	berries
Horse chestnut	Aesculus sp.	nuts, twigs
House plant ferns	Pteris sp.
Hyacinth	Hyancinthinus orientalis	bulbs
Hydrangea	Hydrangea sp.	flower bud
Iris	Iris sp.	bulbs
Ivy	Hedera sp.	leaves, berries
Jack-in-the-pulpit	Arisaema triphyllum	all parts
Japanese yew	Taxus cuspidata	needles, seeds
Java bean (lima bean)	Phaseolus lunatus	uncooked beans
Jerusalem cherry	Solanum pseudocapsicum	berries	Arrhythmias, bradycardia, heart block, severe gastroenteritis, calcification of vascular system, lungs, kidneys. May be teratogenic.
Jimsonweed	Datura sp.	leaves, seeds	Tachycardia, convulsions, death.
Juniper	Juniperus virginiana	needles, stems, berries
Lantana	Lantana sp.	immature berries
Larkspur	Delphinium sp.	all parts
Laurel	Kalmia, Ledum, Rhodendron sp.	all parts
Lily	Lilium sp.	bulbs
Lily of the valley	Convallaria majalis	all parts, including water housing the plant	Vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac arrhythmias, bradycardia, heart block.
Lobelia	Lobelia sp.	all parts
Locoweed	Astragalus mollissimus or Astragalus emoryanus	all parts	Hyperexcitability and locomotor difficulty.
Lords and ladies	Arum sp.	all parts
Lupin	Lupinus sp.
Marijuana	Cannabis sativa	leaves
Maternity plant	Klanchoe sp.
Mayapple	Podophyllum sp.	all parts except fruit
Mescal bean	Sophora sp.	seeds
Milkweed	Asclepias sp.		Weakness, ataxia, seizures, cardiovascular signs.
Mistletoe	Santalales sp.	berries
Mock orange	Poncirus sp.	fruit
Monkshood	Aconitum sp.	all parts
Morning glory	Ipomoea sp.	all parts
Narcissus	Narcissus sp.	bulbs
Nightshades	Solanum sp.	berries, leaves	Arrhythmias, bradycardia, heart block, severe gastroenteritis, calcification of vascular system, lungs, kidneys. May be teratogenic.
Oak	Quercus sp.		Anorexia, diarrhea, small intestinal ulceration and hemorrhage, renal failure & polydypsia, hepatotoxic, can be fatal.
Oleander, bay laurel	Nerium oleander	all parts	Digitalis glycoside - vomiting, bradycardia, arrhythmias, heart block
Parlor ivy	Senecio sp.	all parts
Parsley	Petroselinum sativum
Peace lily	Spathiphyllum sp.		Regurgitation, oral pain, dysphagia and anorexia
Peach		pits
Pencil tree	Euphorbia tirucalli	sap
Philodendron	Philodendron sp.	leaves, stems	Severe irritation of mucous membranes, edema & irritation may take weeks to subside; severe dyspnea; severe keratoconjunctivitis if plant juices contact eyes. Vomiting, diarrhea.
Poinsettia	Euphorbia pulcherrima	leaves, flowers, stem, oily white sap	Irritation, vesication, gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis.
Poison ivy	Toxicodendron radicans	sap
Poison oak	Toxicodendron quercifolium	sap
Poison sumac	Toxicodendron vernix	sap
Pokeweed	Phytolacca americans	leaves, roots, berries	Ulcerative gastroenteritis; acute hemolytic crisis in people.
Potato	Solanum tuberosum	skin, eyes, new shoots	Arrhythmias, bradycardia, heart block, severe gastroenteritis, calcification of vascular system, lungs, kidneys. May be teratogenic.
Pothos	Epipremnum aureum	all parts	Regurgitation, oral pain, dysphagia and anorexia.
Precatory bean	Arbus precatoius
Privet	Ligustrum volgare	all parts
Ranunculus	Ranunculus sp.	sap
Rhododendron	Rhododendron sp.	all parts
Rhubarb	Rheum rhaponticum	leaves
Rosary pea, prayer beans, Seminole beads	Abrus precatorius	seeds	Vomiting, diarrhea (possibly bloody), necrosis of organs (liver, spleen, lymph nodes, stomach, intestine) in mammals.
Sago Palm, Zamia Palm, Cycad Palm	Cycad sp.		Liver failure.
Skunk cabbage	Symplocarpus foetidus	all parts
Snowdrop	Orinthogalum unbellatum	all parts
Snow on the mountain (ghostweed)	Euphorbia marginata	all parts
Spindle tree	Euonymus japonica	all parts
Split leaf philodendron or Swiss cheese plant	Monstera sp.	all parts
Sweet pea	Lathyrus latifolius	seeds and fruit
Tobacco	Nicotinia sp.	leaves	Vomiting, diarrhea, hyperexcitability, muscle fasciculations, seizures, rapid death. Pododermatitis if bird handled by a smoker. Coughing, sneezing, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, secondary respiratory infections if exposed to cigarette smoke.
Umbrella plant	Cyperus alternifolius	leaves
Virginia Creeper	Parthenocissus quinquefolio	sap
Western yew	Taxus breviflora	needles, seeds
Wisteria	Wisteria sp.	all parts
Xanthosoma	Xanthosoma sp.	leaves
Yam bean	Pachyrhizus erosis	roots, immature pods
Yellow jessamine	Gelsemium sempervirens	flowers
Yew	Taxus media	wood, bark, leaves, seeds	Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, shock, coma, seizure, deaths from cardiac or respiratory failure.

Avian Plant Toxicology Research

Studies of plant toxicity in finch species are greatly lacking, however a few studies were done using canaries. Unfortunately, because great variation exists among species, it is not safe to assume that plants which are non-toxic to canaries are equally safe to other birds and vice versa.

AUTHOR(S): Arai, M.; Stauber, E.; Shropshire, C. M.
TITLE: Evaluation of selected plants for their toxic effects on canaries.
YEAR: 1992 CITATION: J Am Vet Med Assoc, 200(9), 1329-1331

ABSTRACT: Leaves or fruit from 14 plants considered to be toxic to pet birds were administered by gavage to 15 pairs of canaries (Serinus canaria). Each bird was given 0.12 to 0.70 g of plant material. One pair served as a control and was given distilled water. The plant materials were flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, pulverized, and resuspended in deionized water for administration. Of the plants tested, 5 (oleander, lupine, foxglove, yew leaves, and dieffenbachia) were considered highly toxic and were associated with acute death of birds. The remaining plant samples (clematis, Hoya carnosa, privet Ligustrum vulgare, parsley Petrosilium sativum, cherry Prunus sp., Pyracantha coccinia, rhododendron, black locust Robinia pseudoacacia, and wisteria) caused no, or only transient, clinical illness.


AUTHOR(S): Hargis, A. M.; Stauber, E.; Casteel, S.; Eitner, D.
TITLE: Avocado (Persea americana) intoxication in caged birds.
YEAR: 1989 CITATION: J Am Vet Med Assoc, 194(1), 64-66

ABSTRACT: Following two incidents in which a pet canary and three pet cockatiels died under conditions suggesting ingestion of avocado as cause of death, an experimental study was undertaken. Avocados of two cultivars were mashed and administered via feeding cannula to 8 canaries and 8 budgerigars. Two control budgerigars were given water via feeding cannula. Six budgerigars and 1 canary died within 24 to 47 hours after the first administration of avocado. Deaths were associated with administration of both avocado cultivars. Higher dose was associated with greater mortality. The 2 budgerigars given water were normal throughout the observation period. It is concluded that avocados are highly toxic to budgerigars and less toxic to canaries. PM findings observed in some birds included subcutaneous oedema in the pectoral area and hydropericardium.


The following study was done using just budgies:

AUTHOR(S): Shropshire, C. M.; Stauber, E.; Arai, A.
TITLE: Evaluation of selected plants for acute toxicosis in budgerigars.
YEAR: 1992 CITATION: J Am Vet Med Assoc, 200(7), 936-939

ABSTRACT: Pairs of budgerigars were given samples, by gavage, of plants considered potentially toxic to pet birds. Samples were prepared by flash-freezing and powdering fresh plant material in liquid nitrogen and resuspending the material in deionized water for administration. Of the 19 plants tested, only 6 induced clinical signs of illness; these plants included yew, oleander, clematis, avocado, black locust, and Virginia creeper (Taxus media, Nerium oleander, Clematis sp, Persea americana, Robinia pseudoacacia, Parthenocissus quinquefolio).

The other plants tested in this study were: bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), privet (Ligustrum sp.), honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.), lupine (Lupinus sp.), cherry (Prunus sp.), pyracantha (Pyracantha coccinea), boxwood (Buxus sp.), dumbcane (Dieffenbachia seguine), foxglove (Digitalis sp.), spindle bush (Euonymus alatus), poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherima), rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.), and blue elderberry (Sambucus cerulea).

Note how some plants which appear well tolerated by budgies (lupine, dieffenbachia, foxglove) prove fatal to canaries, while some plants which canaries appear to tolerate (clematis, black locust) make budgies quite ill. Until more research is done, it is important to err on the side of caution and avoid any plant which may potentially be toxic.

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