How to Research Bands on Your Bird

Banding birds is essential in helping pet owners, scientists and government regulatory agencies track birds as they make their way across the country and around the globe. Pick up almost any bird in the wild or in a pet store and look down at the joint just above the foot. Here you will find a small, color-coded band wrapped around the bird's leg. Printed on the band is a detailed code that can be deciphered to reveal just where your bird came from and possibly, if it is a migrating bird in the wild, where it is going.

Things You'll Need

  • Magnifying glass
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Instructions

  1. Pet Birds

    • 1

      Deciphering the code on a pet bird's band is simple. Using a magnifying glass, look at the shape and size of the band.

    • 2

      Determine whether the band is solid or if it has a small opening in it. Closed bands are solid bands that were placed onto the bird's leg as a juvenile shortly after the bird's birth. Closed bands are used on domestic birds. These are birds that you can be certain were born and raised in captivity. Opened bands have a small slit in them where they were placed over an adult bird's leg and then pressed closed. Birds with open bands were imported.

    • 3

      Observe the letters and numbers on the band. The first set of letters will identify exactly where the bird was quarantined. You will most likely see the letters "USDA" preceding a series of numbers. This stands for United States Department of Agriculture. This government agency quarantines most of the birds that come through the country. After USDA there will be other letters on the band. These letters signify the state where the bird was quarantined. Here is a list of state codes for USGS (United States Geological Survey) bands.

      Newburgh, NY - USDANNY
      Honolulu, HI - USDAH
      Los Angeles, CA - USDAA
      Miami, FL -- USDAM
      Brownsville, TX - USDAB
      Mission, TX - USDAX
      San Ysidro, CA -- USDAN

    • 4

      Bands that begin with other letters signify that the bird was banded at privately owned stations. The first letter describes where the bird was banded; T for Texas, C for California, etc. The second letter describes the quarantine station.

    • 5

      Look at the numbers on the band. These numbers are the bird's personal identification code. This is the most valuable part of the band and will help you track your bird if lost or stolen. Pet birds sometimes do fly away or are stolen, so it is advised to never remove your bird's band.

    Wild Birds

    • 6

      Scientists use bands to track wild birds' movements, population and migration patterns. Finding a lost bird band or recording the numbers from a wild bird can prove extremely helpful to scientists' work. Even bands with numbers worn off can be restored and data retrieved. All bands found on wild birds should be returned to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory where data on bird movements and populations is stored and analyzed. According to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory, "The band will be returned to you when the number has been determined if you request it be returned."

    • 7

      Send a band to the laboratory by flattening the band and taping it between two pieces of cardboard.

    • 8

      Wrap the band in padding, or place it in a small box if you want to keep it round.

    • 9

      Send the band with all the information on how, when, and where you found the band with your address to:

      Bird Banding Laboratory
      12100 Beech Forest Lane
      Laurel, MD 20708

    • 10

      Band information on wild birds that is clearly readable can also be submitted via the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory website.