Bird Species of the United States and its Territories

and Their Protection Under the

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

 

Compiled by John L. Trapp

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Division of Migratory Bird Management

Arlington, Virginia

 

March 8, 2005

 

Determining whether or not any particular bird species detected in a free-flying and unrestrained condition in the United States or its territories is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) depends on answering two simple questions: (1) is it native to the United States or its territories, and (2) does it belong to a family, group, or species covered by one or ore of the four migratory bird conventions to which the United States is a party?  Depending on the answers to these two questions, each species can be placed into just one of four categories (or cells) in the resulting 2 x 2 MBTA protection matrix (Figure 1).

 

 

 

 

Belongs to Taxa Covered by Migratory Bird Conventions?

 

 

Yes

No

Native to U.S.?

Yes

MBTA-Protected (50 CFR 10.13)

Not MBTA -Protected (II.B below)

No

Not MBTA-Protected (70 FR xxxx)

Not MBTA -Protected (II.C below)

 

Figure 1.  Matrix for determining the MBTA status (i.e., protected or not protected) of bird species documented as occurring in the wild in the United States or its territories.

 

Lists of species falling in each of these categories, or links thereto, are provided below.  In reality, there is a fifth category that is not dealt with in detail here.  It includes all other bird species of the world that have never been detected in a wild state in the United States or its territories, and which are therefore not protected by the MBTA.

 


 

I.          SPECIES PROTECTED BY MBTA  

 


Species that are (1) native and (2) belong to families, groups, or species covered by conventions implemented by the MBTA

 

                        50 CFR 10.13

 


II.                 SPECIES NOT PROTECTED BY MBTA

 

 

A.        Species that are (1) nonnative human-introduced and (2) belong to families covered by conventions implemented by the MBTA

 

                        70 FR 12710 (March 15, 2005)

 

B.         Species that are (1) native and (2) belong to families not covered by any of the conventions implemented by the MBTA0

 

            Family MEGAPODIIDAE

                        Megapodius laperouse, Micronesian Megapode+ (NMI)‡

            Family PHASIANIDAE

                        Bonasa umbellus, Ruffed Grouse+ (cont. U.S.)

                        Centrocercus minimus, Gunnison Sage-Grouse+ (CO, UT)

                        Centrocercus urophasianus, Greater Sage-Grouse+ (w. U.S.)

                        Dendragapus obscurus, Blue Grouse+ (w. U.S.)

                        Falcipennis canadensis, Spruce Grouse (n. U.S.)

                        Lagopus lagopus, Willow Ptarmigan+ (n. U.S.)

                        Lagopus leucurus, White-tailed Ptarmigan+ (n. U.S.)

                        Lagopus mutus, Rock Ptarmigan+ (n. U.S.)

                        Meleagrus gallopavo, Wild Turkey+ (cont. U.S.)

                        Tympanuchus cupido, Greater Prairie-Chicken+ (c. & w. U.S.)‡

                        Tympanuchus pallidicinctus, Lesser Prairie-Chicken+ (c. & w. U.S.)

                        Tympanuchus phasianellus, Sharp-tailed Grouse+ (n. & w. U.S.)

            Family ODONTOPHORIDAE

                        Callipepla californica, California Quail+ (CA, NV, OR)

                        Callipepla gambelii, Gambel’s Quail+ (sw U.S.)

                        Callipepla squamata, Scaled Quail+ (sw U.S.)

                        Colinus virginianus, Northern Bobwhite+ (cont. U.S.)

                        Cyrtonyx montezumae, Montezuma Quail+ (sw U.S.)

                        Oreortyx pictus, Mountain Quail+ (w. U.S.)

            Family BURHINIDAE

                        Burhinus bistriatus, Double-striped Thick-knee (TX)

            Family GLAREOLIDAE

                        Glareola maldivarum, Oriental Pratincole (AK)

            Family PSITTACIDAE

                        Amazona vittata, Puerto Rican Parrot+ (PR)‡

                        Aratinga chloroptera, Hispaniolan Parakeet (PR–Extirpated)

                        Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha, Thick-billed Parrot (AZ, NM)‡

            Family TODIDAE

                        Todus mexicanus, Puerto Rican Tody+ (PR)

            Family MELIPHAGIDAE

                        Moho braccatus, Kauai Oo+ (HI)‡

            Family MONARCHIDAE

                        Chasiempis sandwichensis, Elepaio+ (HI)‡

                        Clytorhynchus vitiensis, Fiji Shrikebill+ (AS)

                        Myiagra freycineta, Guam Flycatcher+ (GU)

                        Monarcha takatsukasai, Tinian Monarch+ (NMI)

                        Rhipidura rufifrons, Rufous Fantail+ (GU, NMI)

            Family TIMALIIDAE

                        Chamaea fasciata, Wrentit+ (CA, OR, WA)

            Family ZOSTEROPIDAE

                        Zosterops conspicillatus, Bridled White-eye+ (GU, NMI)‡

            Family COEREBIDAE

                        Coereba flaveola, Bananaquit+ (PR, VI)

            Family DREPANIDINAE

                        Hemignathus flavus, Oahu Amakihi+ (HI)

                        Hemignathus kauaiensis, Kauai Amakihi+ (HI)

                        Hemignathus lucidus, Nukupuu+ (HI)‡

                        Hemignathus munroi, Akiapolaau+ (HI)

                        Hemignathus parvus, Anianiau+ (HI)

                        Hemignathus virens, Hawaii Amakihi+ (HI)

                        Himatione sanguinea, Apapane+ (HI)

                        Loxioides baileui, Palila+ (HI)‡

                        Loxops caeruleirostris, Akekee+ (HI)

                        Loxops coccineus, Akepa+ (HI)

                        Melamprosops phaeosoma, Poo-uli [=Po’ouli] + (HI-Extinct 2004)‡

                        Oreomystis bairdi, Akikiki+ (HI)

                        Oreomystis mana, Hawaii Creeper+ (HI)‡

                        Palmeria dolei, Akohekohe [=Crested Honeycreeper]+ (HI)‡

                        Paroreomyza flammea, Kakawahie [=Molokai Creeper]+ (HI)‡

Paroreomyza maculata, Oahu Alauahio [=Oahu Creeper]+ (HI–probably Extinct)‡

                        Paroreomyza montana, Maui Alauahio+ (HI)

                        Pseudonestor xanthophrys, Maui Parrotbill+ (HI)‡

                        Psittirostra psittacea, Ou+ (HI)‡

                        Telespiza cantans, Laysan Finch+ (HI)‡

                        Telespiza ultima, Nihoa Finch+ (HI)‡

                        Vestiaria coccinea, Iiwi+ (HI)


C.        Species that are (1) nonnative human-introduced and (2) belong to families not covered by any of the conventions implemented by the MBTA1

 

            Family TINAMIDAE

                        Nothoprocta perdicaria, Chilean Tinamou

                        Nothura maculosa, Spotted Nothura

                        Rhynchotus rufescens, Red-winged Tinamou

                        Tinamus major, Great Tinamou

            Family CRACIDAE

                        Crax rubra, Great Curassow

                        Ortalis cinereiceps, Gray-headed Chachalaca

                        Ortalis garrula, Chestnut-winged Chachalaca

                        Ortalis vetula, Plain Chachalaca (GA)

                        Penelope purpurascens, Crested Guan

            Family PHASIANIDAE

                        Alectoris barbara, Barbary Partridge

                        Alectoris chukar, Chukar^ (w. U.S.)

                        Alectoris graeca, Rock Partridge

                        Ammoperdix griseogularis, See-see Partridge

                        Bambusicola thoracica, Chinese Bamboo-Partridge

                        Bonasia bonasia, Hazel Grouse

                        Chrysolophus amherstiae, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant

                        Chrysolophus pictus, Golden Pheasant

                        Coturnix chinensis, Blue-breasted Quail

                        Coturnix japonica, Japanese Quail^ (HI)

                        Coturnix pectoralis, Stubble Quail

                        Francolinus adspersus, Red-billed Francolin

                        Francolinus clappertoni, Clapperton’s Francolin

                        Francolinus erckelii, Erckel’s Francolin^ (HI)

                        Francolinus francolinus, Black Francolin^ (HI)

                        Francolinus icterorhynchus, Heuglin’s Francolin

                        Francolinus leucoscepus, Yellow-necked Spurfowl* (HI-Extirpated)

                        Francolinus pintadeanus, Chinese Francolin

                        Francolinus pondicerianus, Gray Francolin^ (HI)

                        Gallus gallus, Red Junglefowl^ (FL, HI)

                        Gallus sonnerati, Gray Junglefowl

                        Lophura leucomelanos, Kalij Pheasant^ (HI)

                        Lophura nycthemera, Silver Pheasant

                        Melanoperdix nigra, Black Partridge

                         Numida meleagris, helmeted Guineafowl^ (HI, PR)

                        Pavo cristatus, Common Peafowl^ (HI)

                        Perdix perdix, Gray Patridge^ (cont. U.S.)

                        Phasianus colchicus, Ring-necked Pheasant^ (cont. U.S., HI)

                        Phasianus versicolor, Green Pheasant

                        Rollulus rouloul, Crested Partridge

                        Syrmaticus ellioti, Elliot’s Pheasant

                        Syrmaticus reevesii, Reeve’s Pheasant

                        Syrmaticus soemmerringii, Copper Pheasant

                        Tetrao tetrix, Black Grouse

                        Tetrao urogallus, Western Capercaillie

                        Tetraogallus himalayensis, Himalayan Snowcock^ (NV)

            Family TURNICIDAE

                        Turnix varia, painted Buttonquail

            Family ODONTOPHORIDAE

                        Colinus cristatus, Crested Bobwhite^ (VI–now Extirpated)

                        Callipepla douglasii, Elegant Quail

            Family PTEROCLIDIDAE

                        Pterocles exustus, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse^ (HI)

            Family PSITTACIDAE

                        Agapornis fischeri, Fischer’s Lovebird

                        Agapornis personatus, Yellow-collared Lovebird

                        Agapornis roseicollis, Peach-faced Lovebird

                        Amazona aestiva, Blue-fronted Parrot

                        Amazona albifrons, White-fronted Parrot* (FL)

                        Amazona amazonica, Orange-winged Parrot

                        Amazona auropalliata, Yellow-naped Parrot

                        Amazona autumnalis, Red-lored Parrot* (FL–now Extirpated)

                        Amazona barbadensis, Yellow-shouldered Parrot

                        Amazona farinosa, Mealy Parrot

                        Amazona festiva, Festive Parrot

                        Amazona finschi, Lilac-crowned Parrot

                        Amazona ochrocephala, Yellow-crowned Parrot^ (PR)

                        Amazona oratrix, Yellow-headed Parrot^ (FL, PR)

                        Amazona pretrei, Red-spectacled Parrot

                        Amazona ventralis, Hispaniolan Parrot^ (PR, VI)

                        Amazona viridigenalis, Red-crowned Parrot^ (CA, FL)

                        Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, Hyacinth Macaw

                        Ara ararauna, Blue-and-yellow Macaw^ (PR)

                        Ara chloroptera, Red-and-green Macaw

                        Ara macao, Scarlet Macaw

                        Ara militaris, Military Macaw

                        Ara severa, Chestnut-fronted Macae* (FL)

                        Aratinga acuticaudata, Blue-crowned Parakeet* (FL)

                        Aratinga aurea, Peach-fronted Parakeet

                        Aratinga canicularis, Orange-fronted Parakeet* (FL)

                        Aratinga erythrogenys, Red-masked Parakeet* (FL)

                        Aratinga finschi, Crimson-fronted Parakeet

                        Aratinga holochlora, Green Parakeet^ (TX)

                        Aratinga leucophthalmus, White-eyed Parakeet* (FL)

                        Aratinga mitrata, Mitred Parakeet^ (CA, FL)

                        Aratinga pertinax, Brown-throated Parakeet^ (FL, PR)

                        Aratinga rubritorquis, Red-throated Parakeet


                        Aratinga solstitialis or jandaya, Sun or Jandaya parakeet

                        Aratinga wagleri, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet

                        Aratinga weddellii, Dusky-headed Parakeet* (FL)

                        Brotogeris chiriri, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet * (FL)

                        Brotogeris jugularis, Orange-chinned Parakeet

                        Brotogeris versicolurus, White-winged Parakeet^ (CA, FL)

                        Cacatua alba, White Cockatoo

                        Cacatua galerita, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo* (FL–now Extirpated)

                        Cacatua goffini, Tanimbar Cockatoo

                        Cacatua moluccensis, Salmon-crested Cockatoo

                        Cyanoliseus patagonus, Burrowing Parrot

                        Diopsittaca nobilis, Red-shouldered Macaw

                        Eclectus roratus, Eclectus Parrot

                        Eolophus roseicapillus, Galah

                        Eos bornea, Red Lory* (FL–Extirpated)

                        Lorius garrulus, Chattering Lory

                        Melopsittacus undulatus, Budgerigar^ (FL)

                        Myiopsitta monachus, Monk Parakeet^ (e. U.S, PR, TX)

                        Nandayus nenday, Black-hooded Parakeet

                        Nymphicus hollandicus, Cockatiel

                        Pionites melanocephala, Black-headed Parrot

                        Pionus maximiliani, Scaly-headed Parrot

                        Pionus senilis, White-crowned Parrot

                        Poicephalus rueppellii, Rueppell’s Parrot* (FL–now Extirpated)

                        Poicephalus senegalus, Senegal Parrot* (FL–now Extirpated)

                        Propyrrhura auricollis, Golden-collared Macaw

                        Psephotus haematonotus, Red-rumped Parrot

                        Pseudos fuscata, Dusky Lory

                        Psittacula alexandri, Red-breasted Parakeet

                        Psittacula columboides, Malabar Parakeet

                        Psittacula cyanocephala, Plum-headed Parakeet

                        Psittacula eupatris, Alexandrine Parakeet

                        Psittacula krameri, Rose-ringed Parakeet^ (FL, HI, VA)

                        Psittacula roseata, Blossom-headed Parakeet

                        Psittacus erithacus, Gray Parrot

                        Pyrrhura frontalis, Maroon-bellied Parakeet

                        Pyrrhura molinae, Green-cheeked Parakeet* (FL)

                        Rhynchopsitta terrisi, Maroon-fronted Parrot

                        Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

                        Trichoglossus haematodus, Rainbow Lorikeet* (FL–now Extirpated)

                        Trichoglossus ornatus, Ornate Lorikeet

            Family DICRURIDAE

                        Dicrurus macrocercus, Black Drongo^ (GU, NMI)

            Family RHAMPHASTIDAE

                        Ramphastos sulfuratus, Keel-billed Toucan

                        Ramphastos citrolaemus, Citron-throated Toucan

                        Ramphastos toco, Toco Toucan

            Family MUSOPHAGIDAE

                        Musophaga violacea, Violet Turaco

                        Tauraco corythaix, Knysna Turaco

                        Tauraco schalowi, Schalow’s Turaco

            Family BUCEROTIDAE

                        Tockus nasutus, African Gray Hornbill

                        Aceros undulatus, Wreathed Hornbill

                        Ceratogymna brevis, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

            Family BUCORVIDAE

                        Bucorvus abyssinicus, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill

            Family PYCNONOTIDAE

                        Hypsipetes madagascariensis, Black Bulbul

                        Pycnonotus cafer, Red-vented Bulbul^ (FL)

                        Pycnonotus jocosus, Red-whiskered Bulbul^ (FL, HI)

            Family PITTIDAE

                        Pitta guajana, Banded Pitta

            Family IRENIDAE

                        Irena puella, Asian Fairy-bluebird

            Family TIMALIIDAE

                        Garrulax canorus, Hwamei^ (HI)

                        Garrulax leucolophus, White-crested Laughingthrush* (HI-Extirpated)

                        Garrulax pectoralis, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush^ (HI)

                        Leiothrix lutea, Red-billed Leiothrix^ (HI)

            Family ZOSTEROPIDAE

                        Zosterops japonicus, Japanese White-eye^ (HI)

            Family STURNIDAE

                        Acridotheres cristatellus, Crested Myna

                        Acridotheres fuscus, Jungle Myna

                        Acridotheres tristis, Common Myna^ (FL, HI)

                        Gracula religiosa, Hill Myna^ (HI, PR)

                        Lamprotornis superbus, Superb Starling

                        Mino dumontii, Yellow-faced Myna

                        Sturnus vulgaris, European Starling^ (cont. U.S., PR)

            Family PASSERIDAE

                        Passer domesticus, House Sparrow^ (cont. U.S., HI, PR, VI)

                        Passer luteus, Sudan Golden Sparrow

                        Passer montanus, Eurasian Tree Sparrow^ (IL, MO) 

            Family PLOCEIDAE

                        Euplectes afer, Yellow-crowned Bishop^ (PR)

                        Euplectes ardens, Red-collared Bishop^ (PR)

                        Euplectes franciscanus, Orange Bishop^ (CA, PR)

                        Euplectes orix, Red Bishop

                        Ploceus cucullatus, Village Weaver

                        Ploceus velatus, African Masked-Weaver

            Family ESTRIDIDAE

                        Amandava amandava, Red Avadavat^ (HI, PR)

                        Estrilda astrild, Common Waxbill^ (HI, PR)

                        Estrilda caerulescens, Lavender Waxbill^ (HI)

                        Estrilda melpoda, Orange-cheeked Waxbill^ (HI, PR)

                        Estrilda troglodytes, Black-rumped Waxbill^ (HI, PR)

                        Lonchura atricapilla, Chestnut Munia^ (HI, PR)

                        Lonchura cantans, African Silverbill^ (HI)

                        Lonchura cucullata, Bronze Mannikin^ (PR)

                        Lonchura maja, White-headed Munia

                        Lonchura malabarica, Indian Silverbill^ (PR)

                        Lonchura malacca, Tricolored Munia^ (HI, PR)

                        Lonchura nana, Madagascar Munia

                        Lonchura punctulata, Nutmeg Mannikin^ (HI)

                        Padda oryzivora, Java Sparrow^ (HI, PR)

                        Taeniopygia guttata, Zebra Finch

                        Uraeginthus bengalus, Red-cheeked Cordonbleu^ (HI)

                        Vidua macroura, Pin-tailed Whydah^ (PR)

 

Endnote:


            Symbols: plus sign (+) denotes a native species with breeding populations in the U.S.; hat (^) denotes an introduced species that has established a self-sustaining breeding population; asterisk (*) denotes an introduced species that has nested in the U.S. but has not established a self-sustaining breeding population; double dagger (‡) denotes a species that is covered by the Endangered Species Act in all or part of its U.S. range.

            Abbreviations (in parentheses) are used to denote the known U.S. range, and are used only for species with established populations or evidence of breeding: AK = Alaska, AS = American Samoa, AZ = Arizona, CA = California, FL = Florida, GU = Guam, HI = Hawaii, NM = New Mexico, NMI = Northern Marina Islands, NV = Nevada, OR = Oregon, PR = Puerto Rico, TX = Texas, UT = Utah, VI = Virgin Islands, WA = Washington.

 

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