10 Unsafe Foods Many People Mistakenly Put in Bird Feeders

Feeding backyard birds feels like a simple, thoughtful thing to do. You fill the feeder, watch them gather outside the window, and assume anything edible is probably fine. But birds are more sensitive to certain foods than many people realize, and some common kitchen scraps can actually do more harm than good.

A few foods offer little nutrition, some are hard for birds to digest, and others can make them seriously sick. What seems harmless to us isn’t always safe for wildlife.

If you like keeping feeders stocked and your yard full of birds, it helps to know what should stay out of the mix. Here are 10 foods you should never put in a bird feeder.

Baked Goods

Traditionally, feeding bread to birds was commonplace, but any type of baked goods can harm birds. Bread, cakes, and pastries lack nutrients essential for birds to thrive, and can grow toxic molds if not eaten immediately. Plus, baked goods are a magnet for rats and other vermin, something you definitely don’t want in your yard! 

Spoiled or Moldy Food

Don’t be tempted to throw spoiled or moldy food outside for the birds; mold produces toxins that can harm or even kill wild birds. Any food that is past its best must be disposed of responsibly to protect wildlife from harm.

Dairy products

Birds cannot digest the lactose in dairy products, so milk, soft cheeses, and yogurt should be kept away from your bird feeder. The only exception is hard cheeses, which can be fed in very small amounts.

Salted foods

Birds should not consume large amounts of salt as part of their diet, so keep foods like potato chips, salted nuts, and popcorn away from your bird feeder.

Chocolate

Chocolate is highly toxic to birds, as it contains a substance called theobromine, which can cause heart issues.

Whole Nuts

Most types of nuts are highly nutritious snacks that birds will enjoy, but whole nuts can be a choking hazard for smaller birds. Stick to crushed or chopped nuts instead.

Certain fruits

Birds will eat many different fruits in the wild, but be careful which types you put in your bird feeder. Avoid citrus fruits and any fruits with large seeds or pits.

Dried foods

Any type of dried food will swell up after it is eaten, causing serious gastrointestinal problems for birds. These include uncooked rice, dried pet food, desiccated coconut, dried lentils, and split peas.

Avocado

Avocado contains persin, a compound that is toxic to birds and most other animals.

Sugary or processed foods

Sugary snacks aren’t just bad for humans; candy, cookies, marshmallows, and so on are also unhealthy for birds. Never feed honey or any foods containing artificial sweeteners to birds, either.

Sticky foods

Anything slightly sticky can gum a bird’s beak closed or cause matting of the feathers, both of which are highly detrimental to wild birds. Never put sticky foods like marshmallows, cooked oatmeal, and peanut butter in your bird feeder.

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