About Bird Banding

Exotic birds, such as parrots, that are destined for the pet market are nearly always banded at approximately two weeks of age. The band is placed on the bird by sliding it over the toes and onto the lower leg. Once the bird has reached its adult size, the band can no longer be removed without cutting it off, nor can a new one be applied. This is used as proof that the bird was bred within the United States rather than being captured in the wild and illegally imported.

  1. Function

    • Closed bands serve two purposes: to demonstrate that the bird is domestically bred, and therefore has not been smuggled into the United States, and to identify the bird and its origin. Open bands can be applied at any age, and therefore do not prove the bird's origin, but are still useful for identification in the case of an escaped or stolen bird.

    Misconceptions

    • Closed bands are sometimes removed by well-meaning pet owners or small animal veterinarians that are not familiar with birds. This practice began when exotic birds were still being legally imported through quarantine stations, where they were issued open bands. Sometimes these bands were not secured properly, and could lead to injuries when they became caught in toys. Closed bands of the proper size pose no risk to the bird and should be left in place. They provide a valuable means of identifying escaped pet birds.

    Benefits

    • In addition to identifying escaped or stolen birds, closed bands can be used to trace a pet bird's history. For example, a bird with an unknown health problem may have a hereditary disease. Species that are frequently hybridized, such as macaws, certain conures, and Eclectus parrots, may be difficult to correctly identify. Contacting the aviary where the bird was hatched can provide valuable insight.

    Type

    • Most small to medium pet birds are banded using closed aluminum bands with flat sides, which come in a variety of sizes for different species. These bands are often colored with a non-toxic, translucent paint. Closed stainless steel bands are used for large birds with powerful beaks, to prevent injury from chewing on and crushing the band. Open bands are used to identify older birds. These can be distinguished from closed bands by the slit on the side where the band was applied using specialized pliers.

    Expert Insight

    • Closed bands have a standardized code that makes it possible to identify the bird's origin and age. The code includes two small vertical letters, which is the abbreviation for the state the bird was hatched in, and two small vertical numbers, which indicate the year the bird was hatched. The larger, horizontal letters are the aviary's code and the horizontal numbers are the bird's record number. For example, a band code of TX-TPA-05-121 means that the bird was hatched in Texas by an aviary with the code "TPA" in 2005, and the bird's record number is 121. A small circle with the letters "AFA" inside shows that the aviary is a member of the American Federation of Aviculture.