Is it illegal to catch wild birds?
March 24, 2011 Bird House Feeder
Is it illegal to catch wild birds like pigeons or house sparrows? I’ve always wondered whether it was. Maybe there is legal way and a non-legal way of doing it? Also, do other birds have other limitations? Obviously endangered ones like a bald eagle but what about feral birds?
What’s the difference between an English and a House Sparrow? They look quite similar.
Comments (4)
Hummingbirds are fun, entertaining, full of energy and it’s easy to attract hummingbirds.
Catching birds is illegal in most states because of potential diseases.
SO yeah, they are illegal
Pigeons, no. They’re not protected under the songbird and raptor laws.
Game birds ONLY in season, otherwise it’s a big no.
Sparrows, you’d have to just get the English sparrows, NOT the native ones. The English were imports that overbred and are pests now. Pigeons (technically ‘rock doves’ ) are the same classification.
All other non-game birds (with the possible exception of starlings, I’m not sure on those) are protected and illegal to catch, hurt, damage, steal eggs from, kill or otherwise hassle.
Im not sure. I just wanted you to know that the Bald Eagle has been taken off the endangered species list for about a month now!!
All native birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so..yes it is illegal to harm, harass, capture, kill, etc. etc. any wild native bird. Even having their feathers in your possession is illegal. Some threatened or endangered birds are further protected by the Endangered Species Act. The only birds in the U.S. NOT protected by these laws are the English OR House Sparrow (this is the same species that goes by two different names), Rock Pigeon (previously known as Rock Dove), and European Starling.