British Bird Council

CLOSED RINGS

All Captive Bred British Birds Must be closed rung to be able to sell or show them.

Rings can be purchased from a DEFRA authorised supplier of rings such as the British Bird Council.

CLOSED RING CHART


THE BBC HAS MADE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS CORRECT.

THE RING SIZES LISTED FOR SCHEDULE 3 BIRDS ARE AS SPECIFIED BY LAW

THE RINGS LISTED FOR OTHER SPECIES (NON-SCHEDULE BIRDS) ARE RECOMMENDED SIZES, BUT YOU WOULD NEED A GOOD REASON FOR DEVIATING FROM THESE SIZES.

IT REMAINS THE BREEDER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT BIRDS IN HIS POSSESSION ARE LEGALLY RINGED


SIZE CODE

SCHEDULE 3 BIRDS

SCHEDULE 4 BIRDS

OTHER SPECIES (RECOMMENDED SIZES)

A

Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Tree Creeper, Willow Warbler, Wren

B

Siskin,

Redpoll: Common / Lesser, Twite

Coal Tit, Dartford Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Long Tailed Tit, Pied Flycatcher, Serin, Spotted Flycatcher, Wood Warbler

C

Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Mealy Redpoll, Reed Bunting

Black Redstart, Blue Tit,

Blue Throat, Common Redstart, Crested Tit, Grey Wagtail, Greater Whitethroat, Marsh Tit, Marsh Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Savi's Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Willow Tit

D

Bramblefinch,

Bullfinch,

Northern/Siberian Goldfinch*

*SEE NOTE BELOW REF. NORTHERN BIRD RINGS

Cetti's Warbler, Robin, Ruby Throat, Shorelark, Stonechat, Tree Sparrow, Tree Pipit, Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warblers, Whinchat

D+

Yellow Bunting

European Rosefinch

E

Northern/Siberian Bullfinch* 

Greenfinch

Hedge Accentor / Dunnock

*SEE NOTE BELOW REF. NORTHERN BIRD RINGS

Bearded Reedling, Blackcap,

Cirl Bunting, Garden Warbler, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Lapland Bunting, Nightingale. Rock Pipit, Wheatear, Woodlark

G

Nuthatch, Skylark,

Snow Bunting, Wryneck

J

Common Crossbill, Corn Bunting, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Little Ringed Plover, Pine Grosbeak, Red-backed Shrike, Scottish Crossbill, Two Barred Crossbill, Woodchat Shrike

K

Song Thrush

Bee Eater, Blue Rockthrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Hawfinch, Parrot Crossbill, Redwing, Ringed Plover, Rock Thrush, Waxwing

M

Blackbird

Starling

Common Sandpiper, Fieldfare, Great Grey Shrike, Golden Oriole, Hoopoe,

Mistle Thrush, Ring Ouzel

N

Corncrake,

European Quail

P

Jay

Merlin (Male)

Azure Winged Magpie, Golden Plover, Sparrowhawk (male), Turtle Dove

R

Jackdaw

Magpie

Merlin (Female)

Avocet, Black Winged Stilt, Collared Dove, Hen Harrier (male), Hobby (male), Lapwing, Little Owl, Rock Dove, Sparrowhawk (female), Stock Dove, Stone Curlew

S

Montagu's Harrier

Merlin (Female)

Chough, Hobby (female), Kestrel,

Wood Pigeon

T

Collared Scops Owl

U

Barn Owl

Marsh Harrier

Carrion Crow, Hen Harrier (female), Hooded Crow, Rook, Short-eared Owl, Tawny Owl

V

Goshawk (male),

Peregrine Falcon (male), Honey Buzzard.

Barbary Falcon (male)

W

Peregrine Falcon (female). Goshawk (female)

Barbary Falcon (female), Buzzard, Harris Hawk, Raven, Gyr Falcon (male), Red Kite

X

Bengal Eagle Owl,

Gyr Falcon (female),

Red-tailed Buzzard

Z

European Eagle Owl,

Snowy Owl

ZA

Golden Eagle

NORTHERN / SIBERIAN BULLFINCH & GOLDFINCH RING SIZES:

 

PLEASE NOTE IN THE INTEREST OF THE WELFARE OF THE BIRDS LARGER RINGS ARE NOW ADVOCATED FOR THE LARGER RACES OF NORTHERN/SIBERIAN BIRDS;


SIZE D (2.85mm) FOR NORTHERN/SIBERIAN GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis major

SIZE E (3.10mm) FOR THE NORTHERN/SIBERIAN BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula.

 

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IN REGARDS TO SALE AND EXHIBITION, A BIRD IS NOT LAWFULLY CAPTIVE BRED IF THE CLOSED RING CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE LEG OF A FULLY GROWN ADULT BIRD. THESE LARGER RINGS ARE SPECIFIC TO THE LARGER RACES OF GOLDFINCH AND BULLFINCH, USING THEM ON SMALLER OR MIXED RACE BIRDS COULD LEAVE YOU OPEN TO PROSECUTION


Please Note: 


If you do use these larger ring sizes, you are required by Natural England to submit applications to sell and show these birds.


These licences are quite straight forward to submit online. The reason can be stated as; 


"the Schedule 3 prescribed ring is for a Native bird and not large enough for a Northern bird and thus you have used the larger ring in the interests of the birds welfare"


The more applications received, the more Natural England will realise that these larger ring sizes are indeed required for the Northern Species


A20 - Licence to Sell:       Please Follow the Link:      A20


A21 - Licence to Show:    Please Follow the Link:      A21


UNUSED CLOSED RINGS


Please do not return unused rings to the office.

Rings not required for future use should be decommissioned or destroyed by crushing or incineration.


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