Birds in towns and cities are risking their lives by gorging on junk food

BIRDS in towns and cities are getting hooked on junk food. Sparrows, robins and tits risk disease and death by pecking discarded burger, chips and pizza instead of insects and berries. Scientists say the high fat processed food diet reduces the good bacteria in their guts. It makes digesting nutrients, fighting disease and handling climate […]

BIRDS in towns and cities are getting hooked on junk food.

Sparrows, robins and tits risk disease and death by pecking discarded burger, chips and pizza instead of insects and berries.

Getty Images - Getty

Scientists say the high fat processed food diet reduces the good bacteria in their guts.

It makes digesting nutrients, fighting disease and handling climate change much harder.

Fast food, which contains less energy and protein, also cuts their chicks’ chances of survival, say experts.

Researchers fed sparrows trapped in built-up and country areas in south-western France an “urban” or a “rural” diet.

They found urban ones could not properly digest a rural diet.

Dr Aimeric Teyssier, an ecologist at Ghent University in Belgium, said the “westernisation of human diets” may have “negative impacts” on birds.

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