Opium birds refer to birds that are attracted to opium poppies. In India, opium-addicted parrots have been reported to be destroying opium crops, causing huge losses to farmers
. However, it is not clear whether the birds are actually addicted to opium or are attracted to the energy boost that opium provides
. In Tasmania, Australia, cockatoos have been reported to be eating poppy seeds, but experts say that it is the fat and protein content of the seeds that attract the birds, not the narcotic alkaloids
. There is also a hoax about an "Opium Bird" that went viral on social media in 2023, but it was later revealed to be a CGI creation
