Birds are some of the most fascinating creatures that live among us and in the wild. They eat a variety of foods, so do birds eat watermelon?

Birds do eat watermelon. This fruit is delicious to birds and contains a variety of vitamins and minerals that birds need. Watermelon shouldn’t be the only food you give birds but can be incorporated as part of a varied diet. When feeding birds watermelon remove the rind as it is usually coated with pesticides.

They belong to the Aves class of animals and live in every continent of the world. However, some species of birds can only be found in certain regions.

Although the term bird is commonly used to describe any animal with a beak and an ability to fly, not every bird can fly. Some birds are flightless; they spend all their lives roaming the grounds in search of food much like mammals.

If you own a pet bird, have backyard birds that you care for, or are simply curious and want to know if birds can eat watermelon then this article is just for you.

Can birds eat watermelon?

Yes, birds can eat watermelon. Birds eat seeds, grains, berries, nuts, grasses, suet, nectar, insects, worms, and a whole lot of other things. You may not know this, but a lot of fruits we tend to eat alone can be shared with our pet birds. Watermelon is one of such fruits.

Watermelon doesn’t only grow on farms; it also grows in the wild. This fruit serves as a source of food for countless birds living in the wild.

Health benefits of birds eating watermelon:

Keeps the heart healthy:

Watermelon contains citrulline and lycopene. These two compounds can help move blood throughout the body, protect cells from damage, and lower the risk of heart disease.

Good for the eyes and bones:

Watermelon is a fruit that’s rich in vitamin A. Eating this fruit can help improve the eye health of humans and animals. Vitamin A in watermelon also helps to build strong and healthy bones.

Helps with digestion:

Watermelon is made up of 90% water. This makes the fruit an excellent source of water. Watermelon also contains fibre, a property that aids digestion and prevents constipation.

Relieves muscle soreness:

Watermelon contains several electrolytes and the amino acid citrulline. According to one Iranian study, the electrolytes and citrulline in watermelons can help relieve muscle soreness.

Natural treatment for inflammation:

The lycopene in watermelon contains anti-inflammatory properties and can lower the risk of humans and animals falling ill.

Strengthens immunity:

Like most fruits, watermelon contains vitamin C. This vitamin can boost the immune system of humans and animals. The fruit also contains vitamin B6, which helps the immune system produce antibodies necessary for healthy living.

Boosts energy:

Vitamin B in watermelon can boost energy levels. The fruit has few calories and is an excellent source of energy. Eating watermelons can help boost your energy and that of your pet bird.

How to feed birds watermelon:

When feeding birds, it’s important not to overfeed it any particular foods. A bird’s diet should consist of seeds, berries, vegetables, and lots of fruits for it to have a balanced diet.

While watermelon is a great snack for birds living in your home and backyard, it should never be the only food in your bird’s diet. Mix it up with other fruits, seeds, berries, corn, vegetables, and mealworms. The more varied you can make a bird’s diet; the more nutrition they receive.

The watermelon you feed your pet bird should be cut into small pieces, to make it easier for the bird to eat the fruit.

You can either remove the seeds or leave them in, birds are able to swallow watermelon seeds. That being said, it would be best to take out all the seeds from the watermelon if you have any fears of your bird choking.

Be ready to clean up afterwards, the place where your bird eats watermelon will be a mess after they eat. For this reason, bird owners are advised to make sure their pet bird eats the juicy fruit away from carpets, walls, or other surfaces that could are hard to clean.

Can birds eat watermelon rinds?

No, birds cannot eat watermelon rinds. Do not make the mistake of feeding your pet birds watermelon rinds. One of the reasons for this is that most watermelon rinds contain pesticides, fungicides, and other substances that may be toxic to birds.

Washing the rinds doesn’t make much difference. To be on the safe side, it’s always best to totally remove the flesh from the rind before feeding your pet bird or any birds in your yard.

If you must feed a bird watermelon rind, be sure to give them an organically grown watermelon instead. This way, you can be certain no chemical came in contact with the fruit during growth.

What human foods can birds eat?

Birds can eat some of the foods humans eat, but we must be careful about the type of food we share with these animals.

Birds can eat plain bread, wheat bread, and cornbread. Make sure the bread you give to your bird isn’t moulding. This article looks more into birds eating bread.

Other human foods birds can eat include stale cheese, unsalted rice, pasta, and scraps of meat or fish.

Bird owners should never feed their pet birds any of the following human food: chocolate, avocado, caffeine, onions, and mushrooms. They are all very toxic to birds.

Birds eat a variety of foods. Here are some articles looking at if birds eat quinoa, pineapple, cheese, cucumber, celery and eggs. Click the links to read more

Conclusion

Watermelon is a delicious fruit that offers countless nutritional benefits to humans and birds. If you haven’t been feeding your pet bird this snack, it’s never too late, start today.

You can feed your pet bird, just make sure this isn’t all you’re feeding it. As much as your bird loves to eat watermelon, it should also be given other types of food like seeds, nuts, berries, vegetables and mealworms.

Also, don’t forget to remove the watermelon rind before feeding watermelon to the bird – this way you can prevent the bird from eating something that may be harmful to its health.