Can budgies eat avocado?
No – toxic. Budgies should never eat avocado. Avocado is toxic to birds. The Merck Veterinary Manual names budgerigars among the susceptible animals, and the AAV reports that budgies were more susceptible than canaries in a study. Every part of the plant and fruit can cause harm.
Good to know: According to the AAV, there is no established treatment; if a vet sees the bird very soon after it ate avocado, some may still be removed from the crop. The RSPCA, the German Animal Welfare Federation, UC Davis and the AAV’s budgie care sheet all warn against avocado too.
Did your budgie eat some?
If your budgie ate some or seems unwell, the AAV says to get help from an avian vet immediately, even if you only suspect it.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply)
- Tell your vet what your budgie ate, how much and when.
Better choices, for example
Questions
My budgie ate avocado. What should I do?
If your budgie ate some or seems unwell, the AAV says to get help from an avian vet immediately, even if you only suspect it.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Avocado (Persea spp) Toxicosis in Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Food Hazards
- Association of Avian Veterinarians – Budgies (Companion Bird Care Series, 2025)
- Association of Avian Veterinarians – Toxic Plant Series: The Avocado Part 2 (2022)
- Association of Avian Veterinarians – Toxic Plant Series: The Avocado Part 3 (2022)
- RSPCA – What to Feed Your Pet Bird (Parrot Diet)
- RSPCA – Enrichment for Pet Birds
- Deutscher Tierschutzbund – Die Haltung von Wellensittichen (Broschüre)
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine – Nutrition for Birds
- NC State Veterinary Hospital – Parrot Nutrition
- PDSA – Poisons and hazards for your pets
- RSPCA Australia – How will I keep my bird safe against household hazards?
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Bird Owners) – Household Hazards for Pet Birds
- Association of Avian Veterinarians – Protecting Your Pet Birds from Household Dangers (2022)
Last checked: November 2026