The Wild Bird Act

The Wild Bird Conservation Act, enacted in 1992, establishes guidelines for breeding and selling exotic birds as pets. Birds native to the United States as well as the District of Columbia are not protected under the act.

  1. Affected Species

    • The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) maintains a list of protected species worldwide. This list includes over 1,000 birds safeguarded under the act.

    Trade Restrictions

    • Birds protected by CITES may not be imported into the United States. Violations of these trade restrictions are punishable by legal action, with offenders subject to both fines and imprisonment.

    Breeding

    • Under the act, only facilities approved by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior may breed exotic birds. Prospective breeding facilities must obtain a permit and are required to provide humane treatment for birds under their care.

    Conservation

    • The act created the Exotic Bird Conservation Fund, which offers assistance to the home nations of protected birds for conservation purposes.