Almonds are a nutritious nut that many birds, especially larger parrots, love to crack open — a good treat as long as they are plain and given in moderation.
The short answer
Yes — birds can eat plain, unsalted almonds in moderation. Nuts like almonds provide healthy fats and protein, and many parrots enjoy the challenge of cracking the shell. Because they are high in fat, though, almonds are a treat rather than a daily food.
Plain and unsalted only
Only offer unsalted, unseasoned almonds — salt is harmful to birds, and flavoured or roasted-in-oil nuts are not suitable. Use fresh, human-grade almonds, and discard any that look or smell off, as mould on nuts is dangerous to birds.
How to feed almonds
Larger parrots can crack whole almonds in the shell, which is great enrichment; for smaller birds, offer a small piece of the kernel. One almond, or a small piece, a few times a week is plenty given the fat content. Ordinary sweet almonds from the shop are the right kind.