By law, certain species of captive bird must be registered. These are birds that are listed under Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Anyone planning to keep a bird of a species listed in that Schedule must have it registered.
If you keep a Schedule 4 bird, or have such a bird in your possession or control, you must be registered as the keeper even though you may not be the owner. You must register the bird in your name and tell Animal Health the address at which it is kept.
All birds listed on Schedule 4 must be fitted with a ring, or have a licence (issued under section 16(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) to be kept unringed.
Failure to do so is a criminal offence.
Registration is undertaken by Animal Health, an executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on behalf of Scottish Ministers.
Defra issue the registration document and send a copy to the Scottish Government Species Management Team for the records.
Further Information
For information please contact:
Species Management Team
Natural Resources Division
Scottish Government
1 - D North
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Phone: 0131 244 4904
Fax: 0131 244 4071