There are a variety of types of bird bands. While federal bird bands and auxiliary markers should be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory along with bands belonging to foreign banding schemes, there are many that should not be reported to our agency. Non-federal band types are listed here with some ways to identify them and where they can be reported.
Foreign Bands
Many foreign countries also have bird banding programs. Foreign countries often use letters as well as numbers in the codes on their bands. These bands also usually have a foreign address on them. Report foreign bands to the issuing country if possible. You may also report the band to reportband.gov as a color marker and describe the foreign band in your remarks. Be sure to state that the band has the address of a foreign banding scheme and give the address or name of the scheme as it appears on the band. Each year, bands from Russia and Japan are found in western North America. Banded Peregrine Falcons and Canada Geese from Greenland wearing Danish bands can be found in eastern North America. Bands from many Central and South American countries can be seen throughout North America. Many birds banded in Brazil, particularly terns and shorebirds, are reported from eastern North America. In some tropical countries throughout the Caribbean, banders can use their own (foreign) bands on bird species that are covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These bands are occasionally found in the United States or Canada.
Pigeon Bands
Pigeon bands are often aluminum bands with codes on them that are then coated with a transparent layer of colored plastic. Characters on pigeon bands often include an organization code (e.g., AU or ARPU, CU, IF, IPB, NPA, NBRC, or ADA), a recent year (2001or 01, etc.), a club code of 2 to 4 letters, and a 4 to 5 digit number. No other bands are plastic covered metal. Pigeon bands should not be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory. Instead, they should be reported to the appropriate organization: American Racing Pigeon Union , Canadian Racing Pigeon Union, International Federation Organization, Independent Pigeon Breeders, National Pigeon Association, National Birmingham Roller Club, or the American Dove Association. The Pigeonrescue.org may be able to help or you can post information on the Palomancy Pigeon & Dove Adoption Facebook Group. Many pigeons in North America can be reported at pigeon.org.
Falconry Bands
Two types of bands are used on raptors kept legally for falconry. Flexible plastic bands similar to cable ties are generally used on wild caught birds. Birds of prey that are bred in captivity wear a solid seamless band with similar codes to the cable tie bands. These bands should be reported to your state department of natural resources permits section in the United States, or provincial permit office in Canada, not the Bird Banding Laboratory or Bird Banding Office.
State and Provincial Bands
State and provincial agencies may use their own bands to mark gallinaceous (chicken-like) birds such as quail, grouse, pheasant, and turkey. Gallinaceous birds do not fall under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and are usually not banded with federal bands. Although you may occasionally find a federal band on one of these birds, this is not current or common practice. Any gallinaceous bird with a federal band may be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory.
Similarly, state and provincial agencies may also place their own web tags on young waterfowl. Federal bands may or may not be added to the bird at a later date. Waterfowl with webtags should be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory only if the bird also has a federal band.
State and Provincial webtags and bands usually have the name of the agency stamped on them. The codes are usually a single letter followed by 5 or 6 numbers, or may be all numbers. These tags and bands should be reported to the issuing agency. You may have to contact the upland game biologist in your state or provincial natural resources department to report the band. Personnel that answer the general phone numbers are usually unaware of the differences between federal and state bands and try to refer all calls to the Bird Banding Laboratory, which is not appropriate in this case.
Private Bands
Private bands intended for captive birds often have an address to report the band. The Bird Banding Laboratory or Bird Banding Office do not take reports of these bands unless the bird is also wearing a federal band. In the United States, the intentional release of a wild or captive raised bird with a private band is illegal. Only federal bands (and state or provincial bands on gallinaceous birds) may be used on birds covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Jack Miner bands are private bands used on Canada Geese in Ontario. They contain a biblical quote and an identification number. Birds with a Jack Miner band often also have a federal band – in this case, these bands and birds can be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory or the Bird Banding Office. If the Jack Miner band does not accompany a federal band, the bird/band should be reported to the address on the band.
Captive Bird Bands
Captive birds with bands can be found as pets, in zoos, in wildlife rehabs as patients or non-releasable wildlife ambassadors. However, on occasion these birds can escape or be accidentally released.
Cage birds (parakeet, cockatiel, finch, etc.) often wear solid seamless bands, indicating they are captive bred. Parrots that go through U.S. quarantine wear a metal importation band made of heavy wire. Each type of cage bird has at least one group that issues bands to members for their use. Some regional bird clubs also issue bands to their members. These bands are metal with either the organization or breeder’s initials, a two-digit year, and a number. Check with local bird breeders, veterinarians, or pet shops for information on cage bird bands.
Poultry Bands
Poultry bands are used by breeders, farmers, and exhibitors to mark a leg or wing of farmed poultry. Poultry bands are used primarily for identification and managing flocks by tracking age and breeding lines, as well as monitoring health. Often these bands have codes that indicate pedigree, hatch year or ownership. These birds are likely local and, if you are looking for information, you can post within local community groups to track the origins.
Other Bands
Projects such as COASST place eco-friendly numbered wood cuts tied with twine or other identifying markers (zip ties have been used in the past) on the legs of bird carcasses found on beaches along the Pacific coast as a way to study seabird populations. Marked California Condor carry wing tags for identification. Information related to this species is managed by The Peregrine Fund. Please report these birds directly to that organization. There is also a website dedicated to California Condor resightings where a report can be made. Federal and state agencies use bands to tag fish for study or place numbered rings on equipment for tracking purposes which can often be mistaken for bird bands. Avid hunters have commissioned replica bands, wedding bands, or trophy bands for mounted birds or lanyards. None of these should be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory.
Non-native birds such as Mute Swans, Monk Parakeets, Guinea Fowl, Peacocks (Peafowl) and native birds like White Doves are domestically raised, known as ornamental birds, are valued for their aesthetic qualities and serve as living decoration in gardens, aviaries and home. These birds can have bands identifying them as belonging to an individual or organization.
Zoos often band species not native to North America. Wildlife rehabbers will band patients with colored bands for individual identification or bands specific to their center or clinic. The Bird Banding Laboratory does not have information or take reports of these bands.
There are a variety of types of bird bands. While federal bird bands and auxiliary markers should be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory along with bands belonging to foreign banding schemes, there are many that should not be reported to our agency. Non-federal band types are listed here with some ways to identify them and where they can be reported.
Foreign Bands
Many foreign countries also have bird banding programs. Foreign countries often use letters as well as numbers in the codes on their bands. These bands also usually have a foreign address on them. Report foreign bands to the issuing country if possible. You may also report the band to reportband.gov as a color marker and describe the foreign band in your remarks. Be sure to state that the band has the address of a foreign banding scheme and give the address or name of the scheme as it appears on the band. Each year, bands from Russia and Japan are found in western North America. Banded Peregrine Falcons and Canada Geese from Greenland wearing Danish bands can be found in eastern North America. Bands from many Central and South American countries can be seen throughout North America. Many birds banded in Brazil, particularly terns and shorebirds, are reported from eastern North America. In some tropical countries throughout the Caribbean, banders can use their own (foreign) bands on bird species that are covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These bands are occasionally found in the United States or Canada.
Pigeon Bands
Pigeon bands are often aluminum bands with codes on them that are then coated with a transparent layer of colored plastic. Characters on pigeon bands often include an organization code (e.g., AU or ARPU, CU, IF, IPB, NPA, NBRC, or ADA), a recent year (2001or 01, etc.), a club code of 2 to 4 letters, and a 4 to 5 digit number. No other bands are plastic covered metal. Pigeon bands should not be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory. Instead, they should be reported to the appropriate organization: American Racing Pigeon Union , Canadian Racing Pigeon Union, International Federation Organization, Independent Pigeon Breeders, National Pigeon Association, National Birmingham Roller Club, or the American Dove Association. The Pigeonrescue.org may be able to help or you can post information on the Palomancy Pigeon & Dove Adoption Facebook Group. Many pigeons in North America can be reported at pigeon.org.
Falconry Bands
Two types of bands are used on raptors kept legally for falconry. Flexible plastic bands similar to cable ties are generally used on wild caught birds. Birds of prey that are bred in captivity wear a solid seamless band with similar codes to the cable tie bands. These bands should be reported to your state department of natural resources permits section in the United States, or provincial permit office in Canada, not the Bird Banding Laboratory or Bird Banding Office.
State and Provincial Bands
State and provincial agencies may use their own bands to mark gallinaceous (chicken-like) birds such as quail, grouse, pheasant, and turkey. Gallinaceous birds do not fall under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and are usually not banded with federal bands. Although you may occasionally find a federal band on one of these birds, this is not current or common practice. Any gallinaceous bird with a federal band may be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory.
Similarly, state and provincial agencies may also place their own web tags on young waterfowl. Federal bands may or may not be added to the bird at a later date. Waterfowl with webtags should be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory only if the bird also has a federal band.
State and Provincial webtags and bands usually have the name of the agency stamped on them. The codes are usually a single letter followed by 5 or 6 numbers, or may be all numbers. These tags and bands should be reported to the issuing agency. You may have to contact the upland game biologist in your state or provincial natural resources department to report the band. Personnel that answer the general phone numbers are usually unaware of the differences between federal and state bands and try to refer all calls to the Bird Banding Laboratory, which is not appropriate in this case.
Private Bands
Private bands intended for captive birds often have an address to report the band. The Bird Banding Laboratory or Bird Banding Office do not take reports of these bands unless the bird is also wearing a federal band. In the United States, the intentional release of a wild or captive raised bird with a private band is illegal. Only federal bands (and state or provincial bands on gallinaceous birds) may be used on birds covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Jack Miner bands are private bands used on Canada Geese in Ontario. They contain a biblical quote and an identification number. Birds with a Jack Miner band often also have a federal band – in this case, these bands and birds can be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory or the Bird Banding Office. If the Jack Miner band does not accompany a federal band, the bird/band should be reported to the address on the band.
Captive Bird Bands
Captive birds with bands can be found as pets, in zoos, in wildlife rehabs as patients or non-releasable wildlife ambassadors. However, on occasion these birds can escape or be accidentally released.
Cage birds (parakeet, cockatiel, finch, etc.) often wear solid seamless bands, indicating they are captive bred. Parrots that go through U.S. quarantine wear a metal importation band made of heavy wire. Each type of cage bird has at least one group that issues bands to members for their use. Some regional bird clubs also issue bands to their members. These bands are metal with either the organization or breeder’s initials, a two-digit year, and a number. Check with local bird breeders, veterinarians, or pet shops for information on cage bird bands.
Poultry Bands
Poultry bands are used by breeders, farmers, and exhibitors to mark a leg or wing of farmed poultry. Poultry bands are used primarily for identification and managing flocks by tracking age and breeding lines, as well as monitoring health. Often these bands have codes that indicate pedigree, hatch year or ownership. These birds are likely local and, if you are looking for information, you can post within local community groups to track the origins.
Other Bands
Projects such as COASST place eco-friendly numbered wood cuts tied with twine or other identifying markers (zip ties have been used in the past) on the legs of bird carcasses found on beaches along the Pacific coast as a way to study seabird populations. Marked California Condor carry wing tags for identification. Information related to this species is managed by The Peregrine Fund. Please report these birds directly to that organization. There is also a website dedicated to California Condor resightings where a report can be made. Federal and state agencies use bands to tag fish for study or place numbered rings on equipment for tracking purposes which can often be mistaken for bird bands. Avid hunters have commissioned replica bands, wedding bands, or trophy bands for mounted birds or lanyards. None of these should be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory.
Non-native birds such as Mute Swans, Monk Parakeets, Guinea Fowl, Peacocks (Peafowl) and native birds like White Doves are domestically raised, known as ornamental birds, are valued for their aesthetic qualities and serve as living decoration in gardens, aviaries and home. These birds can have bands identifying them as belonging to an individual or organization.
Zoos often band species not native to North America. Wildlife rehabbers will band patients with colored bands for individual identification or bands specific to their center or clinic. The Bird Banding Laboratory does not have information or take reports of these bands.