I see regularly, on ebay, taxidermied song birds for sale from the UK. Are the legal in the US due to the fact that they are non native species? I have been interested in using some in my work but don't want to get myself in trouble. Thanks for your help.
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If they are listed as a migratory bird on one of the treaties, then it would be illegal. Basically, if it is indigenous to the US, then they are considered migratory, even if the one you have is from another country.
There are three basic laws (treaties) to deal with and several others. Sit you have the migratory bird act (USA) we also have the songbird act. These to acts cover all birds in the USA. We also have the migratory bird and songbird treaty and this throws Canada and Mexico into the picture. So, if a bird is not a game bird, or is not an English sparrow or starling you can not possess it. You cannot sell any native birds except pen raised birds accompanied by paperwork.
If a bird comes from another foreign country and is not cities, which include threatened and endangered species, you may bring it into this country and even sell it. If it was legally taken in it's host country and legally brought into this country, through a licensed import quarantine station. This is an expensive permit and most that have it charge a fee for the service. Another law is called the Lacey act and it involves crossing state lines to break a game law. Example going across state lines poaching an Elk, bringing it back to your state and selling it. These are all big time laws with big time penalties. They are all Federal laws and usually can multiply an offense
That's it in my simplest explanation.
Tony
One exception I know of to the above deals with pssitacines (parrots) and other CITES species commonly kept as pets. The key lies in looking for that legband, usually affixed when a chick is 5-14 days old. If the chick is captive born and raised there is no problem in buying / selling / breeding the stock when alive, or buying / selling / mounting/ displaying when dead.
An example is a Moluccan cockatoo. They are CITES II but they are one of the most common, and most loving, of the cockatoo species kept as pets. Since they are very common in commercial aviculture, they are also easily obtainable for taxidermy assuming you know a breeder, rescuer, or family who has lost their loved one (these guys can live 60-70 years!) So just make sure you know the breeder, owner, etc and the bird has a sealed legband affixed,so you can get the paperwork if need be.
Nowadays many breeders are also microchipping their stock, so if you get a dead bird, make sure to skin it carefully and save any microchip you may find. This could be key in proving boh domestic ancestry and finding the breeder to let them know the fate of one of their own.
I thought the 3 species one could possess regardless were: Sternus vulgaris (starling), Columba livia (rock dove "pigeon"), and house sparrow (English sparrow, actually an african weaver finch).
*shrug*
I used to breed birds.. love 'em to death!
Thats a new one on me!
Actually there were a few Songbird Acts. The most famous that comes to mind was Heckyl and Jeckyl the two crows. Perhaps Gonzo would constitute part of an act but I am unsure if he was in the Passeriformes. Gertrud and Heathcliff would have been a great Bird act (Red Skelton for you youngsters) but were unfortunately in the genus Larus so could not be a songbird act. I'm sure that I am missing others - maybe woody woodpecker - nah in the Piciformes. Maybe there aren't as many Songbird acts after all.