Parrot

Pet parrots eat a varied diet centered on quality pellets, vegetables, and limited fruit. Some human foods are unsafe for parrots, including avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, onion, and garlic.

Apple

Treat

Small seed-free apple pieces may be offered occasionally; avoid seeds.
Apple core

From: Apple

Avoid

Core is not recommended; remove seeds and core before feeding apple.
Apple flesh

From: Apple

Treat

Common fruit treat in small portions; seed-free only.
Apple seeds

From: Apple

Toxic

Apple seeds are reported toxic to parrots and should never be fed.
Apple skin

From: Apple

Treat

Can be offered in small amounts when washed well and seed-free.
Banana

Treat

Parrots can have small amounts of banana as part of varied fruit treats, not as a staple.
Beef

Treat

Small plain cooked beef may be offered occasionally, but it is not a staple food.
Beef bones

From: Beef

Avoid

Do not feed beef bones to parrots.
Blueberry

Treat

Can be offered in small amounts as part of varied fruit treats.
Bread

Treat

Small amounts occasionally; avoid salty/seasoned breads.
Carrot

Treat

Parrots can have small carrot pieces as part of a varied diet.
Cherry

Avoid

Do not offer whole cherries; pits must be removed before any feeding.
Cherry flesh

From: Cherry

Treat

Pitted cherry flesh may be offered in small occasional portions.
Cherry pit

From: Cherry

Toxic

Cherry pits are unsafe and should never be fed.
Chicken

Treat

Small plain cooked chicken may be offered occasionally, but it is not a core diet item for parrots.
Chicken bones

From: Chicken

Avoid

Do not feed chicken bones to parrots.
Chocolate

Toxic

Chocolate is toxic to parrots and can cause severe neurologic and cardiac signs.
Dark chocolate

From: Chocolate

Toxic

Highly unsafe for parrots; dark chocolate has concentrated toxic compounds.
Milk chocolate

From: Chocolate

Toxic

Toxic to parrots and should never be fed.
White chocolate

From: Chocolate

Avoid

Not recommended for parrots; chocolate products should not be offered.
Lettuce

Treat

Leafy lettuce may be offered in small amounts as part of varied vegetables.
Green leaf lettuce

From: Lettuce

Treat

May be offered occasionally as part of varied vegetables.
Iceberg lettuce

From: Lettuce

Treat

Can be offered occasionally, but darker leafy greens are better choices.
Red leaf lettuce

From: Lettuce

Treat

May be offered occasionally as part of varied vegetables.
Romaine lettuce

From: Lettuce

Treat

Can be offered occasionally as part of mixed vegetables.
Onion

Avoid

Onion may irritate the digestive system and should be avoided.
Peanut butter

Treat

Very small occasional amount only, plain and unsalted. Not a staple food for parrots.
Potato

Treat

Plain cooked potato may be OK in small amounts for some parrots; avoid raw/green.
Spinach

Supplement

Leafy spinach can be included in rotation in small portions as part of varied vegetables.
White rice

Treat

Small amounts of plain cooked rice may be offered occasionally as part of a varied diet.
Yogurt

Treat

Parrots are lactose-intolerant; if offered, plain unsweetened yogurt should be a very small occasional taste only.
Greek yogurt (plain)

From: Yogurt

Treat

Greek yogurt may be slightly lower in lactose, but parrots should still get only tiny occasional amounts.
Plain yogurt (unsweetened)

From: Yogurt

Treat

Only tiny occasional amounts for parrots; plain and unsweetened only.