The federal band numbers on a recaptured Northern Saw-whet Owl at the Willistown Conservation Trust, Banding station at Rushton Woods Preserve, Pennsylvania. This owl was originally banded in Thunder Bay Ontario.
I found a pigeon with a bird band. Can I still report it?
Pigeon bands should not be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory. Instead, they can be reported to the American Racing Pigeon Union or the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union.
Pigeon bands are plastic covered aluminum, usually colored plastic. Characters on pigeon bands include an organization code (AU, CU, IF, IPB, and NPA often), a recent year (2001 or 01, etc.), a club code of 2 to 4 letters, and a 4-5 digit number. No other bands are plastic covered metal.
Learn More: Identifying Unusual Bird Bands
Related
How do I submit bird banding and/or bird recapture data?
Bird banding and band recapture data from banding activities must be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory using the Bander Portal. You can find out more information on the Bander Portal by watching the lab's video tutorials.
How do I obtain a federal bird banding permit?
A Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit is required whenever someone wants to place a bird band or any type of marker on a wild bird that is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or on a federally-protected bird that will be released into the wild. To obtain a permit, visit the General Permit Information webpage of the Bird Banding Laboratory.
Does banding hurt birds?
No, banding does not hurt birds. When proper techniques and equipment are carefully employed, it’s a safe procedure for birds. Trained banders, who apply their expertise and thoughtfulness towards the health and well-being of the birds, follow strict procedures based on the Bander’s ethic code.
How do I get a certificate of appreciation after reporting a banded bird?
Certificates of appreciation are given to people who have found birds with leg bands or color markers and reported them to the Bird Banding Laboratory through their " Report a bird with a federal band or color marker" website. Certificates are automatically generated when you report a bird and can be downloaded immediately after your report is completed. If you want an additional copy of your...
I found (or killed) a bird with a band or color marker around its leg. What do I do?
Bird band information is an important tool that is used to monitor populations, set hunting regulations, restore endangered species, study effects of environmental contaminants, and address such issues as Avian Influenza, bird hazards at airports, and crop depredations. The North American Bird Banding Program is jointly administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Canadian Wildlife...
Who can band birds?
Because banding birds requires capturing the birds and handling them before the banding takes place, the banding of birds in the United States is controlled under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and requires a federal banding permit. Some states require a state permit as well. Only official federal bands can be legally placed on birds that are released to the wild within the United States. Banders...
Federal Band Number on a Northern Saw-whet Owl
The federal band numbers on a recaptured Northern Saw-whet Owl at the Willistown Conservation Trust, Banding station at Rushton Woods Preserve, Pennsylvania. This owl was originally banded in Thunder Bay Ontario.
Banding an American Woodcock
An American Woodcock receives its USGS metal band at the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.
An American Woodcock receives its USGS metal band at the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.
Keychain in Inupiaq for USGS outreach activities about bird banding
Keychain developed for USGS outreach activities about bird banding and reporting in Inupiaq and English. Inupiaq translation provided by Qaiyaan and Jana Harcharek.
Keychain developed for USGS outreach activities about bird banding and reporting in Inupiaq and English. Inupiaq translation provided by Qaiyaan and Jana Harcharek.
Bird in mist net at Patuxent Research Refuge
Gotcha! A ruby-crowned kinglet waits to be extracted from a mist net at the Bird Banding Lab's fall migration banding station. Powerlines that run through the Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, near Laurel, MD are managed as shrub habitat instead of mowed, which provides stopover habitat for migratory birds.
Gotcha! A ruby-crowned kinglet waits to be extracted from a mist net at the Bird Banding Lab's fall migration banding station. Powerlines that run through the Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, near Laurel, MD are managed as shrub habitat instead of mowed, which provides stopover habitat for migratory birds.
ID Bands for Suisun Waterfowl
USGS scientists attach small metal bands, each with its own ID, to the ankles of adult waterfowl to identify where the animal was caught. When it is re-captured later in its migration, researchers can use that information to determine how far the animal traveled.
USGS scientists attach small metal bands, each with its own ID, to the ankles of adult waterfowl to identify where the animal was caught. When it is re-captured later in its migration, researchers can use that information to determine how far the animal traveled.
Amelia DuVall taking seabird samples
Amelia DuVall is a seabird ecologist and a member of the Quantitative Conversation Lab at the Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Amelia's taking samples of a Scripps’ murrelet chick.
Amelia DuVall is a seabird ecologist and a member of the Quantitative Conversation Lab at the Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Amelia's taking samples of a Scripps’ murrelet chick.
Bird-banding Kit
The kit contains over 600 pieces and was used at the Bird Banding Laboratory at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland.
Object ID: USGS-000219
The kit contains over 600 pieces and was used at the Bird Banding Laboratory at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland.
Object ID: USGS-000219
Related
How do I submit bird banding and/or bird recapture data?
Bird banding and band recapture data from banding activities must be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory using the Bander Portal. You can find out more information on the Bander Portal by watching the lab's video tutorials.
How do I obtain a federal bird banding permit?
A Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit is required whenever someone wants to place a bird band or any type of marker on a wild bird that is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or on a federally-protected bird that will be released into the wild. To obtain a permit, visit the General Permit Information webpage of the Bird Banding Laboratory.
Does banding hurt birds?
No, banding does not hurt birds. When proper techniques and equipment are carefully employed, it’s a safe procedure for birds. Trained banders, who apply their expertise and thoughtfulness towards the health and well-being of the birds, follow strict procedures based on the Bander’s ethic code.
How do I get a certificate of appreciation after reporting a banded bird?
Certificates of appreciation are given to people who have found birds with leg bands or color markers and reported them to the Bird Banding Laboratory through their " Report a bird with a federal band or color marker" website. Certificates are automatically generated when you report a bird and can be downloaded immediately after your report is completed. If you want an additional copy of your...
I found (or killed) a bird with a band or color marker around its leg. What do I do?
Bird band information is an important tool that is used to monitor populations, set hunting regulations, restore endangered species, study effects of environmental contaminants, and address such issues as Avian Influenza, bird hazards at airports, and crop depredations. The North American Bird Banding Program is jointly administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Canadian Wildlife...
Who can band birds?
Because banding birds requires capturing the birds and handling them before the banding takes place, the banding of birds in the United States is controlled under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and requires a federal banding permit. Some states require a state permit as well. Only official federal bands can be legally placed on birds that are released to the wild within the United States. Banders...
Federal Band Number on a Northern Saw-whet Owl
The federal band numbers on a recaptured Northern Saw-whet Owl at the Willistown Conservation Trust, Banding station at Rushton Woods Preserve, Pennsylvania. This owl was originally banded in Thunder Bay Ontario.
The federal band numbers on a recaptured Northern Saw-whet Owl at the Willistown Conservation Trust, Banding station at Rushton Woods Preserve, Pennsylvania. This owl was originally banded in Thunder Bay Ontario.
Banding an American Woodcock
An American Woodcock receives its USGS metal band at the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.
An American Woodcock receives its USGS metal band at the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.
Keychain in Inupiaq for USGS outreach activities about bird banding
Keychain developed for USGS outreach activities about bird banding and reporting in Inupiaq and English. Inupiaq translation provided by Qaiyaan and Jana Harcharek.
Keychain developed for USGS outreach activities about bird banding and reporting in Inupiaq and English. Inupiaq translation provided by Qaiyaan and Jana Harcharek.
Bird in mist net at Patuxent Research Refuge
Gotcha! A ruby-crowned kinglet waits to be extracted from a mist net at the Bird Banding Lab's fall migration banding station. Powerlines that run through the Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, near Laurel, MD are managed as shrub habitat instead of mowed, which provides stopover habitat for migratory birds.
Gotcha! A ruby-crowned kinglet waits to be extracted from a mist net at the Bird Banding Lab's fall migration banding station. Powerlines that run through the Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, near Laurel, MD are managed as shrub habitat instead of mowed, which provides stopover habitat for migratory birds.
ID Bands for Suisun Waterfowl
USGS scientists attach small metal bands, each with its own ID, to the ankles of adult waterfowl to identify where the animal was caught. When it is re-captured later in its migration, researchers can use that information to determine how far the animal traveled.
USGS scientists attach small metal bands, each with its own ID, to the ankles of adult waterfowl to identify where the animal was caught. When it is re-captured later in its migration, researchers can use that information to determine how far the animal traveled.
Amelia DuVall taking seabird samples
Amelia DuVall is a seabird ecologist and a member of the Quantitative Conversation Lab at the Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Amelia's taking samples of a Scripps’ murrelet chick.
Amelia DuVall is a seabird ecologist and a member of the Quantitative Conversation Lab at the Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Amelia's taking samples of a Scripps’ murrelet chick.
Bird-banding Kit
The kit contains over 600 pieces and was used at the Bird Banding Laboratory at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland.
Object ID: USGS-000219
The kit contains over 600 pieces and was used at the Bird Banding Laboratory at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland.
Object ID: USGS-000219
Updated Date: March 14, 2025