Can Birds eat Mango?

If you are a bird enthusiast or love to have birds at home, you might be wondering “Can birds eat mango?” Although humans love to eat this sweet and juicy fruit, but can birds also love to eat it as humans do? This is the question that arouse curiosity in many bird enthusiasts.

It’s true that birds can definitely eat mangoes, and they are an excellent addition to their diet. They are a nutrient rich treat filled with vitamins A, B6, C, E and potassium. However, you should feed mangoes in a moderate amount to your birds because of their high sugar content. Overfeeding can digestive issues or obesity.

In this blog post, you’ll learn the nutritional benefits of mangoes for birds, best ways to serve them and what safety measure you should take before feeding this fruit to your birds.

So, let’s start finding whether birds can eat mangoes!

Is Mango Safe For Birds?

Mangoes are generally safe for birds to eat. In fact, they provide essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which are your birds’ daily dietary needs.

The only harmful substances in a mango are seeds, pits, and skin. Because they can cause choking hazard or intestinal blockage. So, if you want to feed this tasty treat to your birds, you can do this by simply removing these harmful substances.

Also, make sure to feed in a moderate amount to prevent potential health risks. 10% of your bird’s daily caloric intake is a good amount.

Now let’s try to find, what nutrients are in mango for birds?

The Nutritional Value Of Mango For Birds

Mangoes are a nutritious and delicious treat for birds, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Rich in vitamins A and C, mangoes support healthy vision, immune function, and feather growth in birds.

The high water content in mangoes also helps keep birds hydrated, especially during hot summer months. Additionally, mangoes contain fiber, which aids digestion and helps maintain a healthy gut.

Moreover, mangoes are a good source of energy too. It’s due to their natural sugars and high calorie content. This quick energy helps your birds perform their daily activities like flying, foraging, and singing with ease. Mangoes also contain various minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and iron. These minerals are helpful in maintaining strong bones, healthy blood cells, and efficient oxygen delivery.

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The following table shows the nutritional values of mangoes for birds:

Nutrient	Value (per 100g)	Benefits for Birds
Energy	51 kcal	Fuel for daily activities
Protein	1.4g	Helps in growth & maintenance
Fat	0.5g	Energy source
Fiber	2.6g	Healthy digestion
Vitamin A	10% DV	Healthy vision & immune function
Vitamin C	70% DV	Feather growth
Potassium	10% DV	Strong bones & heart health
Magnesium	9% DV	Bone health & energy production
Iron	5% DV	Healthy blood cells & oxygen delivery
Water Content	84%	Hydration & digestive health

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How To Feed Mango To Birds?

1. Wash and Clean:

First of all, rinse the mango under running water. This step is important to remove any pesticides, dirt, or bacteria. After rinsing, dry it with a clean cloth.

2. Remove the Skin and Pit:

As you know, birds cannot easily digest mango skin, so it’s best to peel it. Then cut the mango in half and remove pit.

3. Cut into Bite-Sized Pieces:

After removing skin and pit, chop the mango flesh into small and easily eatable pieces for birds. For small birds, you can make 1/4 inch (6-8 mm) cubes, and for larger birds 3/4 inch (19-20 mm) cubes are best. These sizes ensure your birds don’t get choking hazard or digestive issues.

4. Feeding Options:

To feed these mango pieces, there is not a single method. You have multiple option to choose from as per your ease:

i. Tray Feeders or Platforms:

In this method, you can place mango pieces on tray feeders or flat platform feeders. This method is helpful for multiple birds to eat at once. Just make sure these feeders from predators.

ii. Hanging Feeders:

You can hang these type of feeders on trees or hooks.

Utilize hanging feeders specifically designed for fruit. These feeders can be hung from trees or hooks, making it easy for birds to access the mango while keeping it elevated and away from ground predators. Choose feeders with small openings to accommodate the fruit securely.

iii. Suet Feeders:

For a nutritious and energy-rich option, mix mango with suet. This combination provides birds with a high-calorie treat, especially beneficial during colder months when food is scarce. Simply mash the mango and blend it with suet, then place it in a suet feeder.

What Birds Eat Mangoes?

As you look out of your window at your backyard feeder, you see many feathered visitors there. You might want to know what of these bird species can eat mangoes and what not. So, we’ve arranged a list of bird species that can eat mangoes and the bird species that you should avoid feeding mangoes.

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Here’s a list of bird species that can and can’t eat mangoes:

Bird Species That Can Eat Mangoes	Bird Species That Should Avoid Mangoes
Parrots (African Greys, Amazon, Cockatoos)	Small birds (Finches, Sparrows, Canaries)
Toucans	Budgies (Parakeets)
Mynah birds	Cockatiels
Starlings	Lovebirds
Peacocks	Eclectus Parrots
Pheasants	Lorikeets
Quails	Swallows
Hornbills	Swifts
Orioles	Young/Juvenile birds
Sunbirds	Birds with liver/kidney issues
Hummingbirds	Birds with beak or digestive issues
Tanagers
Woodpeckers
Finches (large species)
Doves
Bulbuls
Kingfishers
Bee-eaters

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Can Budgies Eat Raw Mango?

Yes, budgies, or budgerigars, can safely enjoy mangoes. Although they are granivores (seed-eaters) parrots, they do enjoy soft and juicy flesh of mangoes.

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You can also watch this video where a budgie is enjoying a small piece of mango.

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Can Mango Cause Any Health Issues For Birds?

Although mangoes are a healthy and nutritious treat for birds, they do have some negative effects if fed improperly or in excess amount. Therefore, to protect your birds, you must be aware of the potential health issues mangoes can create.

Let’s look at some of those health risks:

• Choking Hazard: Mango seeds, pits, or large chunks can stuck in throat and block airways. This can also lead to serious respiratory distress.
• Digestive Problems: High sugar and fiber content in mangoes can cause diarrhea or stomach upset.
• Obesity: Avoid overfeeding as it can contribute to weight gain, obesity, and related health issues.
• Pesticide Toxicity: There is a possibility of pesticide residue left in mangoes, which can harm your bird if they eat in a large amount.
• Calcium Absorption Interference: Oxalic acid in mangoes may inhibit calcium absorption and affect your bird’s bone health.

Therefore, as a responsible bird enthusiast or pet bird owner, you should maintain best feeding practices to feed mangoes to your avian friend’s diet. Although mangoes are generally safe for birds, but you should keep an eye on them while feeding this sweet and juicy treat.

Conclusion:

As you’ve learned, mangoes can indeed be a safe and healthy treat for many bird species. You now understand that these sweet tropical fruits offer numerous benefits to our feathered friends. They provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are essential for birds’ daily dietary needs.

You’ve also learned how you can prepare and serve this delicious treat to your birds. However, you should keep in mind the health risks of feeding mangoes to your birds that we’ve discussed above.

So, if you implement this information into your bird’s care routine, this will definitely help him enjoy this tasty treat without compromising his health.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Resources Used For Research:

• Feeding Wild Birds: Should People Feed Birds and What’s Best to Feed Birds? – Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Effects of bird-feeding activities on the health of wild birds – National Library Of Medicine
• Fruits and Vegetables in Birds’ Diets – VCA Animal Hospitals
• Who else enjoys mango? – Mango.org