Can Birds Eat Tomatoes?
Most people think of tomatoes as a delicious and nutritious food that can enhance a wide range of dishes. But as much as we humans love eating tomatoes, can birds eat tomatoes too?
The answer is yes, birds can eat tomatoes. However, there are a few important considerations before you feed tomatoes to birds, and they should never eat tomatoes in excess.
Can Birds Eat Tomatoes Safely?
Because of the high acidity of tomatoes and the presence of certain molecules, they should be provided only in moderation.
In large volumes, tomatoes can cause upset stomachs and digestive problems in garden birds. Some tomatoes are very acidic indeed, with most ranging between 3.5 and 4.9 on the pH scale.
Another reason to keep tomatoes as an occasional treat is that tomatoes are rich in Vitamin D3. This might sound like a good thing, but when birds have too much Vitamin D3 in their diet it can lead to the formation of calcium deposits throughout the body, causing discomfort and mobility problems.
When there are lots of other food types available, most birds will moderate their consumption of tomatoes, but when the weather is very cold or dry and there isn’t much else to eat, it’s important to provide them sparingly in between other healthy bird food options.
Are Red or Green Tomatoes Better for Birds?
Ripe and sweet red tomatoes are a nice treat for birds from time to time, but green tomatoes should always be avoided. This is because they contain alkaloids that can be quite toxic to all sorts of different animals, including birds.
The alkaloid in tomato plants is called solanine, and alongside being in the leaves and stems, it can be found in the unripe green fruit. However, its volume drops significantly as the fruit ripens to its red colour.
Interestingly, the solanine content also remains quite a bit higher in smaller tomatoes than it does in big ones, so if you favour cherry tomatoes, be even more sparing with your leftovers.
Symptoms of solanine poisoning in birds include difficulty breathing, muscle twitching, trembling, and even paralysis, so you should never put green tomatoes out for the birds and always remove any green stems or tops from leftover tomatoes.
Are Tomatoes Good for Birds?
While you might be thinking this all sounds very unappealing, don’t be deterred. You may still want to offer a tomato or two to your feathered friends from time to time. This is because tomatoes offer a host of the essential nutrients that growing, flying, and breeding birds need.
Ripe tomatoes get their red colour from a powerful antioxidant called lycopene which is great for protecting the cells in birds’ bodies from oxidative stress. They also contain a range of vitamins including A, B6, B9, C, and K. Together, these support healthy bones and eyes, as well as immunity and the nervous system.
Tomatoes also provide birds with useful minerals. These include potassium which aids fluid regulation within the body, calcium which supports bone and beak growth, and phosphorus which supports the genetic building blocks for tissue repair.
How to Prepare Tomatoes for Birds
Putting ripe tomatoes on your bird table will attract birds such as robins, woodpeckers, and thrushes. But how should you prepare the tomatoes for them?
If your tomatoes are store-bought and not organic, be sure to rinse them well either with a purpose-made product or a mild water-vinegar solution to remove any pesticide residues.
Next, trim away any green spots and remove stalks and green heads that are often left on store-bought vine tomatoes.
By cutting tomatoes into small pieces, you’ll make it easier for birds to access the juicy flesh of the fruit and help smaller birds to choose a piece and fly away.
Just remember to make tomatoes an occasional treat only, and preferably, not the only snack available.
What About Dried or Cooked Tomatoes?
The process of drying or cooking tomatoes can reduce the acidity of this fruit quite a bit, making it more palatable for your feathered friends.
Keep in mind, however, that any added ingredients such as oils, salt, or seasoning might be problematic. If in doubt, it’s always better to side with caution.
If you have leftover passata or other forms of tomato sauce, this may be safe for the birds in your garden. However, pause for a moment to check the ingredients. Most tomato-based pasta sauces contain onion and garlic, both of which are very toxic to birds.
The most important point to remember is that tomatoes can be a welcome addition to the diet of garden birds when given sparingly, but they must never be green. Dried and cooked tomatoes are okay for birds too, but only when they aren’t combined with problematic ingredients.
If you stick to these simple rules and always ensure that there are other options available for birds stopping by for a snack, your birds will love their tomato treats and you can enjoy watching many visitors to your garden.
Do you have other kitchen scraps to feed your birds? Find out which scraps you can feed the birds.