All Birds UNPROTECTED by the MBTA
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act affects both the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Russia and makes it illegal to possess parts including bones, nests, and feathers of any native or protected species of bird, ranging from common songbirds to rare eagles. This law is in place to prevent the passenger pigeon extinction from happening to another species of bird.
Breaking this law can result in fines or possible jail time depending on the severity of the offense. Here is a list of bird species that are NOT protected by the MBTA. Please follow your state/province laws when collecting/purchasing anything even if it is unprotected by the MBTA, different states have different laws. For any specific questions please call or email your local DNR.
Family Anatidae Aix galericulata, Mandarin Duck Alopochen aegyptiacus, Egyptian Goose Anas hottentota, Hottentot Teal Anas luzonica, Philippine Duck Anser anser, Graylag Goose Anser anser `domesticus', Domestic Goose Anser cygnoides, Swan Goose Anser indicus, Bar-headed Goose Branta ruficollis, Red-breasted Goose Callonetta leucophrys, Ringed Teal Chenonetta jubata, Maned Duck Coscoroba coscoroba, Coscoroba Swan Cygnus atratus, Black Swan Cygnus melanocoryphus, Black-necked Swan Cygnus olor, Mute Swan* Dendrocygna viduata, White-faced Whistling-Duck Neochen jubata, Orinoco Goose Netta peposaca, Rosy-billed Pochard Netta rufina, Red-crested Pochard Nettapus coromandelianus, Cotton Pygmy-goose Tadorna ferruginea, Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, Common Shelduck Family Pelecanidae Pelecanus onocroatalis, Great White Pelican Pelecanus rufescens, Pink-backed Pelican Family Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax gaimardi, Red-legged Cormorant Family Anhingidae Anhinga melanogaster, Oriental Darter Family Threskiornithidae Platalea leucorodia, Eurasian Spoonbill Threskiornis aethiopicus, Sacred Ibis Family Ciconiidae Ciconia abdimii, Abdim's Stork Ciconia ciconia, White Stork Ciconia episcopus, Woolly-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, Black-necked Stork Family Cathartidae Sarcoramphus papa, King Vulture Family Phoenicopteridae Phoenicopterus chilensis, Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor, Lesser Flamingo Family Accipitridae Buteo polyosoma, Red-backed Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga, Great Black-Hawk Gyps sp., Griffon-type Old World vulture Terathopius ecuadatus, Bateleur Family Rallidae Aramides cajanea, Gray-necked Wood-Rail Family Gruiidae Balearica pavonina, Black Crowned-Crane Balearica regulorum, Gray Crowned-Crane Grus antigone, Sarus Crane Grus virgo, Demoiselle Crane Family Charadriidae Vanellus chilensis, Southern Lapwing Vanellus spinosus, Spur-winged Lapwing Family Laridae Larus novaehollandiae, Silver Gull Family Columbidae Caloenas nicobarica, Nicobar Pigeon Chalcophaps indica, Emerald Dove Columba livia, Rock Pigeon* Columba palumbus, Common Wood-Pigeon Gallicolumba luzonica, Luzon Bleeding-heart Geopelia cuneata, Diamond Dove Geopelia humeralis, Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia striata, Zebra Dove* Geophaps lophotes, Crested Pigeon Geophaps plumifera, Spinifex Pigeon Geophaps smithii, Partridge Pigeon Leucosarcia melanoleuca, Wonga Pigeon Phaps chalcoptera, Common Bronzewing Starnoenas cyanocephala, Blue-headed Quail-Dove Streptopelia bitorquata, Island Collared-Dove* Streptopelia chinensis, Spotted Dove* Streptopelia decaocto, Eurasian Collared-Dove* Streptopelia risoria, Ringed Turtle-Dove* Family Strigidae Pulsatrix perspicillata, Spectacled Owl Family Trochilidae Anthracothorax nigricollis, Black-throated Mango Family Corvidae Callocitta colliei, Black-throated Magpie-Jay Corvus albicollis, White-necked Raven Corvus corone, Carrion Crow Corvus nasicus, Cuban Crow Corvus splendens, House Crow Cyanocorax caeruleus, Azure Jay Cyanocorax sanblasianus, San Blas Jay Dendrocitta vagabunda, Rufous Treepie Garrulus glandarius, Eurasian Jay Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Red-billed Chough Urocissa erythrorhyncha, Blue Magpie (Red-billed Blue-Magpie) Family Alaudidae Alauda japonica, Japanese Skylark Lullula arborea, Wood Lark Melanocorypha calandra, Calandra Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, Mongolian Lark Family Paridae Parus caeruleus, Blue Tit Parus major, Great Tit Parus varius, Varied Tit Family Cinclidae Cinclus cinclus, White-throated (Eurasian) Dipper Family Sylviidae Cettia diphone, Japanese Bush-Warbler* Sylvia atricapilla, Blackcap Family Turdidae Copsychus malbaricus, White-rumped Shama* Copsychus saularis, Oriental Magpie-Robin Erithacus rubecula, European Robin Luscinia akahige, Japanese Robin Luscinia komadori, Ryukyu Robin Luscinia megarhynchos, Common (European) Nightingale Saxicoloides fulicata, Indian Robin Turdus philomelos, Song Thrush Turdus ruficollis, Dark-throated Thrush Family Prunellidae Prunella modularis, Hedge Accentor (Dunnock) Family Thraupidae Piranga rubriceps, Red-hooded Tanager Thraupis episcopus, Blue-gray Tanager Cyanerpes cyaneus, Red-legged Honeycreeper Family Emberizidae Emberiza citrinella, Yellowhammer Gubernatrix cristata, Yellow Cardinal Loxigilla violacea, Greater Antillean Bullfinch Melopyrrha nigra, Cuban Bullfinch Paroaria capitata, Yellow-billed Cardinal* Paroaria coronata, Red-crested Cardinal* Paroaria dominicana, Red-cowled Cardinal Paroaria gularis, Red-capped Cardinal Sicalis flaveola, Saffron Finch* Tiaris canora, Cuban Grassquit Family Cardinalidae Passerina leclacherii, Orange-breasted Bunting Family Icteridae Gymnostinops montezuma, Montezuma Oropendola Icterus icterus, Troupial* Icterus pectoralis, Spot-breasted Oriole* Leistes (Sturnella) militaris, Red-breasted Blackbird (Greater Red-breasted Meadowlark) Family Fringillidae Carduelis cannabina, Eurasian Linnet Carduelis carduelis, European Goldfinch Carduelis chloris, European Greenfinch Carduelis cucullata, Red Siskin* Carduelis magellanica, Hooded Siskin Loxia pysopsittacus, Parrot Crossbill Serinus canaria, Island (Common) Canary* Serinus leucopygius, White-rumped Seedeater Serinus mozambicus, Yellow-fronted Canary* The MBTA also does not apply to many other bird species, including (1) nonnative species that have not been introduced into the U.S. or its territories, and (2) species (native or nonnative) that belong to the families not referred to in any of the four treaties underlying the MBTA. The second category includes the Tinamidae (tinamous), Cracidae (chachalacas), Phasianidae (grouse, ptarmigan, and turkeys), Odontophoridae (New World quail), Burhinidae (thick-knees), Glareolidae (pratincoles), Pteroclididae (sandgrouse), Psittacidae (parrots), Todidae (todies), Dicruridae (drongos), Meliphagidae (honeyeaters), Monarchidae (monarchs), Pycnonotidae (bulbuls), Sylviinae (Old World warblers, except as listed in Russian treaty), Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers, except as listed in Russian treaty), Timaliidae (wrentits), Zosteropidae (white-eyes), Sturnidae (starlings, except as listed in Japanese treaty), Coerebidae (bananaquits), Drepanidinae (Hawaiian honeycreepers), Passeridae (Old World sparrows, including house or English sparrow), Ploceidae (weavers), and Estrildidae (estrildid finches), as well as numerous other families not represented in the United States or its territories.
Here, as I promised if I found it: the list of species NOT protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. For extra caution I would always recommend checking with Fish and Game before collecting animal parts that you’re not sure about. Also, if you’re going to collect bird parts, be VERY sure that you have identified them correctly!!
Vulture Culture Problems: Sometimes it’s better to be paranoid when it comes to laws.