Last Updated on March 7, 2024 by Carrie Stephens
Yes, parrots can eat mango flesh and skin! However, the stone contains traces of cyanide and must be removed. While mango seeds are edible when cooked, the raw pit is toxic.
This nutritious tropical stone fruit is a source of vitamins A, B6, C, K, potassium, iron, and folate. A mango’s phytochemicals also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Why Mango Is Healthy for Parrots
Many parrots are native to countries where mangos (Mangifera indica) grow.
Mango is a sweet, juicy, and flavorful tropical fruit that parrots enjoy eating. While birds’ taste buds aren’t as advanced as humans, parrots enjoy the texture and flavor.
Occasional mango consumption gives parrots the following:
Vitamin C
There’s 36.4 mg of vitamin C per 100 g of mango. While this isn’t as much as guavas (228 mg), mango contains more vitamin C than many other popular fruits. Parrots need vitamin C (ascorbic acid) for:
- Robust immune health.
- Reduced blood pressure and decreased risk of stroke.
- Healing from cuts, wounds, and abrasions.
- Blood sugar regulation.
- Preventing respiratory issues.
- Cataract prevention.
Note that parrots can generate ascorbic acid from glucose in the liver.
Vitamin A
According to the MSD Manual, vitamin A is crucial for a healthy immune system. Parrots fed an all-seed diet, like budgies, are most at risk from hypovitaminosis A.
The signs of a vitamin A deficiency include:
- Nasal discharge.
- Sneezing.
- Swelling around the eyes.
- Conjunctivitis (red eye).
- Shortness of breath.
- Passing large amounts of urine (polyuria).
- Excessive thirst or drinking.
- Poor feather quality.
- Feather-destructive behavior.
- Malnutrition.
- Secondary bacterial infections.
Feeding a parrot mango can prevent a deficiency because it contains 54 mcg of vitamin A per 100 grams.
Vitamin K
There’s 4.2 ug of vitamin K in every 100 grams of mango. While mango doesn’t have as much vitamin K as lettuce, it still gives parrots a much-needed boost.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin needed for strong bones and healthy eggshells. It reduces the chances of osteoporosis and chick mortality.
It also promotes blood clotting, preventing cuts and scrapes from bleeding profusely. A parrot with a severe vitamin K deficiency is at risk of internal hemorrhages.
Antioxidants
According to MDPI, mango is a source of polyphenols, including:
- Mangiferin.
- Gallic acid.
- Gallotannins.
- Quercetin.
- Isoquercetin.
- Ellagic acid.
- β-glucogallin.
Mango contains 25 carotenoids. According to Science Media Exchange, carotenoids convert into vitamin A, improving immune defenses and preventing cellular damage.
Potassium
Parrots need trace minerals, like potassium, in their diet. It’s necessary for bone development, regulating fluids, muscle and nerve function, hormone creation, and heart health.
There’s 168 mg of potassium in 100 grams of mango. Bananas are another excellent source. However, eating high-potassium fruits should be moderated if a parrot has kidney problems.
Folate
Parrots need folate to form uric acid, a waste product expelled from the body as urates.
Birds with a folate deficiency may experience:
- Anemia.
- A weakened immune system.
- Impaired cell division.
- Under-development of the reproductive tract.
Mango Nutritional Info
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), one cup of raw mango (165g) contains:
Nutrient or Mineral | Amount |
Calories | 99 kcal |
Protein | 1.35 g |
Fat | 0.627 g |
Carbohydrates | 24.7 g |
Sugars | 22.5 g |
Fiber | 2.64 g |
Calcium | 18.2 mg |
Magnesium | 16.5 mg |
Phosphorous | 23.1 mg |
Potassium | 277 mg |
Folate | 71 µg |
Vitamin A | 89.1 µg |
Vitamin C | 60.1 mg |
Vitamin B-6 | 0.196 mg |
Vitamin K | 6.9 µg |
Mango Skin
Some owners mistakenly believe mango skin is inedible and throw it away.
The skin of mangoes is high in antioxidants and essential nutrients, including fiber. This benefits a parrot’s digestive system, promoting regular and healthy digestive transit.
While the skin is fun to tear through, it has a slightly bitter taste, which some parrots dislike. The skin also contains urushiol, which is a mix of organic chemicals.
Although not toxic, it can cause an allergic reaction in some parrots. Mango dermatitis resembles a poison oak rash with small, itchy, and oozing blisters. It usually goes away after 2-4 days.
Mango Seed
Usually, it’s beneficial to give birds tough and resilient foods. These enable parrots to wear down their ever-growing beaks and occupy their time. Unfortunately, a mango’s seed must be removed.
As mango is a stone fruit, its seeds contain amygdalin (vitamin B17). When eaten, they’re broken down into hydrogen cyanide, which is poisonous.
Cyanide isn’t a heat-stable substance that doesn’t survive cooking. Consequently, roasting mango seeds is the only way to make them safe for avian consumption.
Remove the stone before offering any mango to a parrot. The same rule applies to alternative stone fruits like apricots, peaches, plums, and cherries.
Dried Mango
Freeze-drying locks in a mango’s beneficial vitamins and minerals, increasing their shelf life. When getting dried mango from the grocery store, check the ingredients list for unwelcome additions.
The problem with dried mango is the fruit loses its hydrating qualities. If a parrot is a reluctant drinker, avoiding foods where all moisture has been removed is recommended.
Don’t offer birds mango products that contain sulfides because they may cause allergic reactions.
Mango Juice
As long as mango juice is prepared from fresh mango, it’s okay for parrots to drink. You can put it in a parrot’s dish. If the flavor is too strong or sweet, dilute it with water.
Store-bought mango juice is high in sugar and additives to keep it fresher for longer. It’s unsuitable for parrots to drink regularly as it can lead to weight gain in sedentary birds.
Due to the manufacturing process, it doesn’t always have the same nutrients as fresh juice.
How To Prepare And Feed Parrots Mango
Wash the mango, remove the seed/stone, and cut it into manageable portions. You can then feed it directly to your parrot and let them tear it into pieces.
Alternatively, remove the skin and seed and cut it into bite-sized chunks. Then, put them in a dish and let the parrot pick them out. Unfortunately, this removes nutrients beneath the skin.
Mangos are a good source of vitamins and minerals. Most parrots love the taste, texture, and juiciness of the fruit. However, a parrot’s mango intake should be controlled due to the high natural sugar levels.