Originally Posted by
ClearCreek
Skip has a excellent point here.
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. ... The statute makes it unlawful without a waiver to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, or sell birds listed therein as migratory birds. The statute does not discriminate between live or dead birds and also grants full protection to any bird parts including feathers, eggs, and nests.
Birds that are considered non-native species such as the House Sparrow and the European Starling are not protected, and many groups of hunted or game birds, including ducks, geese, doves, and many shorebirds are subject to limited protection and can be hunted in season.
All other birds, there are just over 1000 species, are protected by this statute.
ClearCreek