All information below is from the
of the U.S. Department of the Interior, USGS
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Contents: About Bird Bands ~ Identifying
Unusual Bands ~ Etching Worn Bands
About
Bird Bands
There are several different types of bands used on wild
birds in North America. Each type of band is made in many different sizes
so that every bird has a suitable size band available for use by banders.
Bands provided by the Bird Banding Laboratory are made
of aluminum and inscribed CALL 1-800-327 BAND and WRITE BIRD
BAND LAUREL MD 20708 USA followed by a unique 8 or 9 digit number.
The older bird bands had the legend AVISE BIRD BAND WASH DC. These
bands are from the same agency as the new bands and can be reported on
the 1-800 telephone number or to Laurel MD.
There are 23 standard size bands and 5 specially sized
bands made to accommodate the smallest hummingbird to the large Trumpeter
Swan. In addition there are 4 common types of bands which include the standard
butt-end band, the lock-on bands used on hawks and owls, rivet bands used
on eagles, and hard metal bands for use on birds that would otherwise outlive
their bands or are in harsh environments like salt water that may wear
the regular bands too quickly.
Bands do wear out eventually, but even a very worn band
with the numbers seemingly invisible can have the numbers determined using
etching. To learn more about etching bands, see below. Hundreds of bands are etched and returned to hunters
by the Bird Banding Laboratory every year.
Butt-end Bands
The most common type of band used in North America is
the butt-end band (photo above, front row and 2nd and 4th bands, back
row). This band is a round band with two edges that butt evenly together
when closed correctly. Butt-end bands are supplied by the Bird Banding
Laboratory to licensed US banders free of charge. Bands made of a harder
metal, typically stainless steel, monel or incoloy, are used on birds that
live for many years or live in salt water environments. Some sizes of hard
metal bands are available to banders now, but most must be purchased at
the banders expense.
Lock-on and Rivet Bands
Lock-on and Rivet bands are specifically designed to stop
birds with strong bills like hawks and owls from opening or damaging the
band with their strong bill.
The lock-on band (photo above,back row 3rd band) is
used on all medium to large birds of prey other than eagles. The band is
like a normal butt-end band with two flanges of metal. The longer flange
is folded over the shorter flange, effectively "locking" the
band in place. The band is made of relatively soft aluminum and can be
removed by the bander, but not by the bird.
Rivet bands (photo above,back row 1st band) are
made of harder metal than the lock-on band (but not stainless steel) and
are used on eagles. The band has two short flanges of metal that project
out from the seam where the two ends of the band meet. These flanges are
side by side when the band is closed with a hole for a rivet. The band
is riveted in place.
Other bands are sometimes seen on birds. Some of these
can be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory, but most cannot. To learn
more about other types of bands, read on.
Identifying Unusual Bands
Most of the bands found on birds other than federal metal
bands and auxiliary markers (includes goose neck bands and colored leg
bands) should not be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory. The exception
are bands from foreign banding schemes. Federal and other bands are listed
here with a general indication of where they can be reported.
Federal Bands
Federal bands issued in the USA and Canada have 8 or 9
numbers with a legend indicating WRITE BIRD BAND LAUREL MD 20708 or AVISE
BIRD BAND WASH DC. Avise loosely means advise in several languages. Some
bands used in recent years may have the 1-800-327-BAND legend as well,
especially larger bands. These bands are always metal but may be aluminum
or harder metal. Color bands are used as auxiliary markers by some banders
with the permission of the respective banding office.
Colored leg
Bands
Colored leg bands for small birds are made of plastic
and come in a variety of colors that give unique combinations because of
their placement on the bird. Colored bands are sometimes placed on the
upper leg as well as the lower leg. The exact placement of the bands (above
or below the "knee", left or right leg), colors of bands, and
location of the metal Service band are all important in identifying color
banded birds. Some birds, notably shorebirds, may have flags and color
bands mixed together on the same bird. A flag is a leg band with tabs that
extend away from the leg. This flag identifies the country of banding for
shorebirds under the Pan American Shorebird Program.
How to Report a Sighting of a Color Marked Bird
The more information that you can provide, the more likely
the individual bird or marking project can be identified. Important information
to send is:
Report your sighting on the Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center report page, or call your report in to 1-800-327-BAND (please
do not use this number if you have live Canada Goose observations or several
birds to report!), or FAX it to 301-497-5717 (use this for shorebirds,
peregrine sightings etc. where the position of the flags or codes may be
easier to draw than to describe on the telephone!); or email to BBL@usgs.gov.
Specialty Bands
Some specialty bands have a letter followed by 5 numbers.
These bands are federal bands of special types, either triangular bands
used on murres or tiny bands used on hummingbirds. These bands should be
reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory.
Foreign Bands
Many foreign countries also have bird banding programs.
Foreign countries often use letters as well as numbers in their bands.
The bands all have a foreign address on them. Bands from other governments
found in North America should be reported to the US Bird Banding Laboratory
at 1-800-327-BAND. 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
Brazil are reported from eastern North America on terns and shorebirds.
Pigeon Bands
Pigeon bands are plastic covered aluminum, usually
colored plastic. Characters on pigeon bands are typically 2-4 letters,
followed by a recent year (2001or 01, etc.) and a 4-5 digit number. No
other bands are plastic covered metal. Pigeon bands should NOT
be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory. Contact local pigeon clubs
to find contact addresses for pigeons in your area.
Falconry Bands
Two types of bands are used on falcons kept legally for
falconry. For wild caught birds, plastic flexible bands similar to cable
ties are used. The codes are R sometimes with another letter followed by
5-6 numbers in the US, and C sometimes with another letter followed by
5-6 numbers in Canada. Birds of prey that are bred in captivity wear a
solid seamless band with similar codes to the cable tie bands. Report these
bands to your state department of natural resources permits section in
the US, not the Bird Banding Laboratory. (Find State Natural Resources Departments)
State and Provincial Bands
These bands are used on Gallinaceous (chicken-like) birds
(Quail, Grouse, Pheasant, and Turkey) by state and provincial agencies.
Gallinaceous birds do not fall under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and
are not banded with federal Service bands. You may occasionally find a
federal band on one of these birds, but this is not current practice. Federal
bands may, of course, be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory.
State and Provincial bands usually have the name of the
Agency stamped on them. The codes are usually a single letter followed
by 5-6 numbers or all numbers. These bands should be reported to the issuing
Agency. You may have to request the upland game biologist in your state
or provincial natural resources department to report the band. Personnel
that answer the general phone numbers are generally 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. (Find State Natural
Resources Departments)
Private Bands
Private bands usually have an address to report the band.
Any band placed on a wild or captive raised bird that is intentionally
released in the United States is illegal. Only federal bands (and state
bands on gallinaceous birds) may be used on birds covered by the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act. The Bird Banding Laboratory does not take reports of these
bands.
Jack Miner bands are private bands used on Canada Geese
in Ontario. They contain a biblical quote and a number. Jack Miner bands,
like all private bands, should be reported to the address on the band.
Cage Bird Bands
Cage birds often wear bands. If these bands are solid,
seamless bands they indicate that the bird is captive bred. Parrots that
go through US quarantine wear a metal importation band made of heavy wire.
Each type of cage bird (parakeet, cockatiel, finch, etc) 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 breeders initials, a two-digit year, and a number. Check
with local bird breeders or pet shops for information on cage bird bands.
The Bird Banding Laboratory does not take reports of these bands.
Etching Worn Bands
Most bands are made of an aluminum alloy. The numbers
are stamped into the band and can wear off with time. The average band
on a Mallard wears one number off in 8-10 years. A band on a Redhead is
often worn completely (no numbers legible) in this same 8-10 years. Band
wear depends greatly on the amount of time a bird spends in the water,
particularly salt water.
If you find a bird band with one or more numbers worn
off (or if the band number is struck with shot) mail it to the Bird Banding
Laboratory to be etched. The number can be retrieved successfully in most
cases. Bands are etched using a strong acid solution. The band metal in
areas where the number was stamped is weaker and the strong acid solution
erodes away more metal where there were numbers, so the actual number is
seen when the band is rinsed. The band will be returned to you when the
number has been determined if you request it be returned.
To send a band to the Bird Banding Laboratory, tape the
band between two pieces of cardboard, wrap the band in padding, or place
it in a small box if you want to keep it round. This is very important,
as otherwise the band may cut the envelope and be lost in the postal system.
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 Attention: Band to Be Etched. If you include
a request to return the band, it will be mailed back to you whether we
are successful in retrieving a number or not.