Many parrots are native to countries where mangos (Mangifera indica) grow, including macaws, African greys, Senegal parrots, Eclectus parrots, Alexandrine parrots, Quaker parrots, and Amazon parrots.
Parrots can eat mango flesh and skin, but 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 good source of vitamins A, B6, C, K, potassium, iron, and folate. A mango’s phytochemicals also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Is Mango Good for Parrots?
Mango is a sweet, juicy, and flavorful tropical fruit that parrots enjoy eating. While birds’ taste buds aren’t as well developed as humans, parrots greatly enjoy the texture and flavor.
Occasional mango consumption gives parrots the following health benefits:
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, including bananas and apples.
Parrots need vitamin C (ascorbic acid) for the following reasons:
- 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.
Unlike humans, parrots can produce vitamin C from glucose in the liver.
Vitamin A
According to MSD Manual, vitamin A is crucial for a healthy immune system. Parrots fed an all-seed diet (common among budgies) are most at risk from vitamin A deficiencies.
The signs of a vitamin A deficiency (hypovitaminosis A) 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.
With 54 mcg per 100 grams, feeding a parrot mango is one way to avoid a vitamin A deficiency.
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, reducing the chances of osteoporosis and chick mortality.
It also promotes blood clotting, preventing cuts and scrapes from bleeding profusely. When a parrot has a severe vitamin K deficiency, it’s at risk of internal hemorrhages.
Antioxidants
According to MDPI, mango is a rich source of polyphenols, including:
- Mangiferin.
- Gallic acid.
- Gallotannins.
- Quercetin.
- Isoquercetin.
- Ellagic acid.
- β-glucogallin.
Mango contains 25 carotenoids. As described by Science Media Exchange, carotenoids convert into vitamin A, improving a parrot’s immune defenses and preventing cellular damage.
Potassium
Parrots need trace minerals, like potassium, in their diet. Potassium is 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 rich source of potassium if you want an alternative fruit that a parrot enjoys eating in the wild.
Eating high-potassium fruits should be moderated if the parrot has kidney problems.
Folate
Mango is a rich source of folate. Parrots need folate to form uric acid, a waste product expelled from the parrot’s body in the form of urates. Parrots with a folate deficiency may experience:
- Anemia.
- A weakened immune system.
- Impaired cell division.
- Under-development of the reproductive tract.
Nutritional Information of Mango
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 |
Can Parrots Eat 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 for parrots to tear through, it has a slightly bitter taste, which some parrots may not enjoy. 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.
Can Parrots Eat Mango Seed?
Usually, it’s beneficial to give birds tough and resilient foods. It enables parrots to wear down their ever-growing beaks and provides enrichment. Unfortunately, a mango’s seed must be removed.
As mango is a stone fruit, mango seed contains amygdalin (vitamin B17). When eaten, it’s broken down into hydrogen cyanide, which is poisonous.
Cyanide isn’t a heat-stable substance that doesn’t survive cooking, so roasting the mango seed is the only way to make them safe for avian consumption.
It’s highly recommended that owners remove the stone before giving mango to a parrot. The same rule applies to stone fruit like apricots, peaches, plums, and cherries.
Can Parrots Have 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 unhealthy added substances.
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 can cause allergic reactions.
Can Parrots Drink 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 water dish. If the flavor is too strong or sweet, dilute it with fresh 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 may not have the same nutrients as fresh juice.
How To Prepare And Feed Parrots Mango?
Wash the mango, remove the seed/stone, and cut the fruit into manageable portions. Feed the mango directly to the 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. This is the cleanest method, but it removes nutrients below the skin.
Mangos are a good source of vitamins and minerals for parrots. Most parrots love the taste, texture, and juiciness of the fruit. Limit the parrot’s mango intake due to the high sugar levels.
