Plain, unsweetened, unsulphured dried fruit is a fine occasional treat, but most commercial dried fruit adds sugar and sulfite preservatives — and drying concentrates the sugar either way, so keep portions small.
Keeper's noteLook for 'unsweetened, unsulphured' (sulphured fruit is unnaturally bright; unsulphured is duller/browner). Great for stuffing foraging toys — just smaller amounts than fresh.
What to watch out for with dried fruit
Drying removes water and concentrates everything else, including sugar — so dried fruit is far sweeter by weight than fresh. Many commercial versions also add sugar and sulfur dioxide (a preservative some birds are sensitive to). Plain, additive-free dried fruit is useful for foraging toys and travel, in moderation.