All About Bird Bands
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by Heike Ewing Ott Parrot owners are often curious about the band on their bird's leg. What do the letters and numbers mean? Can the breeder's information be determined from the band, and if so, how do you go about getting that information? This article answers the most common questions about bird bands. |
There are two types of bird leg bands, open bands and closed bands.
All parrots that were legally imported into this country and went through quarantine have an open band that indicates the port of entry and an identifying number. These bands are not overly useful for ID as they can be pried off and put on to another bird. There have also been a few incidents of birds getting caught on wire, etc. with an open band. According to my vets, if the band is properly applied, the correct size, and doesn't bother the bird, they generally leave it on. You can buy open bands, but the only use I can think of for them is to identify breeders that are kept in a community flight.
Closed bands are applied by the breeder when the bird is a baby (exact age depends on species) and are designed so that the band is too small to come off over the bird's foot once it is fully grown. A closed band can not be put on an adult bird, only a young baby whose feet are still smaller than adult size. Therefore, an intact closed band proves that the bird wearing it is a domestically-bred baby and provides identification. Organizations such as the Society of Parrot Breeders and Exhibitors, the American Federation of Aviculture, the American and National Cockatiel Societies, etc., sell closed bands for their members that =generally= provide the following info:
Issuing organization initials/logo, Breeder's unique ID code, year of hatch, state, and a number that identifies that particular bird. A breeder who keeps good records can provide you the exact hatchdate, the parents, whatever genetic info they have, and other misc. info about that bird if given the band number. Most of these organizations keep contact records for the breeders, so if you call the AFA with a band number, they can put you in contact with the breeder. For example, my ACS band code is 57E, so the 23rd tiel I banded in 1996 would have the following on its band: ACS 57E 23 96. (The year is usually sideways on the band.)
Several commercial companies also sell closed bands that can have on them an ID code, the state, the year of hatch, and the bird's number, or less or more than that. L&M keeps some records and may be able to put you in touch with a breeder who uses their bands, but a non-organizational band doesn't tell you what company it was purchased from.
Now, to make a long story short, if your bird doesn't already have a closed band, you can't put one on, and there's not much use in applying an open band. Consider another form of ID, such as DNA gene typing, microchipping, tattooing, etc. If your bird DOES have a closed band, it's a permanent ID card and both you and your vet should have a record of the number in case the bird is ever lost, stolen, or needs to have its identity verified.
29 Comments on All About Bird Bands »
February 6, 2007
juliaan acosta @ 1:31 pm:
if someone can help me and email me where i can buy open leg bands for budgies id really thank you for it.
Shelly Lane @ 4:15 pm:
Hi, try L & M Bands. They sell open and closed bands for budiges as well as many other sizes. :)
February 15, 2007
Cathy Soodjinda @ 12:23 pm:
what is the number of AFA. I am planing to taking 2 african grey parrot with me on aboard from Charleston,WV to Bangkok,Thailand. I need to find out the band number on my bird,so I can get the most information about the bird. Would you please help me.
Thanks.
Shelly Lane @ 9:29 pm:
Cathy, the phone number for the AFA is 816-421-BIRD. You may also contact them at afaoffice@aol.com.
March 15, 2007
Valerie @ 10:43 am:
My birds band reads AI 7346
What does that mean?? Or how can I find out what it means?
I don't see anyhting in that # that represents the hatch date??
November 16, 2007
Jessica Partin @ 4:30 pm:
My parrots band reads H6 190. Can someone please tell me if this is a breaders code or give me a number or website where I can find out?
December 29, 2007
Donald R. Hetrick @ 6:42 pm:
I have an umbrella cockatoo with a metalclosed band reading:PA(sideways)00LA 058. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
January 19, 2008
Lisa Abatecola @ 1:31 pm:
I have a scarlet macaw with a closed metal band that reads: (OFF 995)can anyone help me with the letters (OFF) portion of the band?
March 10, 2008
Sonya Walters @ 4:41 pm:
My bird has a closed metal band on her leg. It reads BDH nc8 30. I need to know what kind of bid she is and where she is from.Can anyone help me or refer me to a site that will tell me?
June 21, 2008
Ray @ 4:15 pm:
I have a bird that is about 3 1/2 years old he does not have a band is this ok, I would like to use him for breeding
August 8, 2008
Paula @ 3:14 pm:
Need to know where to order the bird leg band cutter (for metal) without having to order a minumum of $150 !! Help?
Paula
August 29, 2008
Jenni @ 12:06 am:
I moved from Arizona to Belize in Central America, leaving my B&G with a friend who has more macaws. My bird was not banded,even though he was from a breeder…who never thought it was necessary. I cannot ship Ross into Belize without a band…he is 7 years old. Would putting an open band on him be sufficient, and legal or would I do better to have him DNA'd and a microchip or tattoo put in place. trying to get all my paperwork together in hope! Considering he needs a CITES permit, I want to be VERY sure, before I do anything that might screw up my chances. If I am able to band, where would I find the band sellers? Thanks
Jenni
September 8, 2008
Tami @ 10:37 am:
I have an African Grey with a closed leg band. My problem is I can't find his paperwork anywhere. Is there some place I can go to get a copy of his papers?
September 17, 2008
Tony Watley @ 9:20 pm:
The breeder or the pet store where you purchased the bird would be the only places that would be able to give a true copy of his paper work.
Tony Watley @ 9:22 pm:
If you have not found a band yet. We sell the open stainless steel leg bands that you would need. Just email at redbird@directcon.net
September 21, 2008
Janice @ 3:42 pm:
on my birds leg band it reads NBS 96 R 267, WHAT DOES THESE LETTERS AND NUMBERS STAND FOR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE MY BIRD COMES FROM AND THE YEAR IT WAS BORN. ALSO THE BIRD HAS ANOTHER OPEN THINNER BAND ON ITS LEFT FOOT WITH ONLY NUMBERS ON IT , WHAT DOES THIS BAND USED FOR AND ITS AN OPEN BAND TOO.
October 6, 2008
Lora Gaddis @ 5:06 pm:
My Quaker Parrot's leg band reads HAI FL (sideways) 2099
I would like to know what this means. Thanks for any info you can provide.
November 10, 2008
Gwen Pennock @ 9:20 am:
My African Grey has a leg band BBR245. I bought her in November 2003. The pet shop owner said she's female and 2 - 4 years old. Will the band pinpoint more accurate information? Also, 5 years later, she still doesn't talk. Is it too late?
March 9, 2009
Pearl Hametz @ 1:46 pm:
I found a Quaker Parrot and brought it to my Vet in NY where I live.
Unfortunately, the leg band on the bird does not indicate the date of birth or even the sex, which is required by law in NY. However, my vet did indicate to me that the bird was bred in Florida and they have different rules.
Since I am curious to know the date of birth and also the sex maybe someone (the Breeder) can identify the leg band number which is SABF1147 and supply me this information.
Thank you very much.
Pearl Hametz
April 3, 2009
cheriepetersen @ 8:12 pm:
I have an umbrella cockatoo, i love him dearly(:
anyways. i was trying to find out what the numbering and lettering on his bird band stand for seeing that he only has two letters and no year.(that i could find)
pp 245
thats all thats there also the band is a closed band and is silver onthe inside anda blueish color. i am not sure if that means anything.
thanks.
April 18, 2009
Stacy Kinsler @ 3:17 pm:
My cockatoo has a numbers only quarintined band and the numbers say 04/59. What does this mean?
May 19, 2009
Kaci @ 2:11 pm:
For most of you, the letters on the ID band tell you who the breeder is. Contact the breeder's association for the breed of bird you have and they can tell you who the breeder is by the initials on the band. The number after the initials is usually the hatch number. That is how the breeder ID's the bird. Some breeders buy a new set of bands every year with the date on them but in most states that is up to the breeder and alot of them don't do that because you have to throw away unused bands at the end of the year.
May 28, 2009
Lauren Hargrave @ 8:48 pm:
My Quaker Parrot's leg band reads EBF FL 3, I would like to know what this means. Thanks for any info you can provide.
June 10, 2009
Kurt @ 3:19 pm:
I need some help on my conyres band. It reads AAS E 329 and there is an AZ sideways on the band. It is a closed band , aluminum in color. thank you for your time.
July 14, 2009
Roberta Collins @ 10:35 pm:
JOHI–My bird's band has HAI FL on it too. I beleive the HAI are the breeders initials and FL is the state so the breeder lives in Florida. There are a couple numbers 01 I think is because the bird was born in January and the 8 1 I think is the number and batch my bird came from. I am looking to find this breeder too so I can get some information from him. If you find out who it is please email me at BirdzWord@aol.com. Thanks, Bird
August 13, 2009
rena peachey @ 7:53 pm:
have mustache par. with band JLB 114 wondering what code stood for because haven't had any lucky researching it
September 7, 2009
Michell @ 10:25 pm:
I just purchased a blue quaker, with a closed band. All that is on the band is JWF FL 15
anyone know what that means? or who I can contact?
Thanks in advance!
September 8, 2009
Al Kelley @ 10:53 am:
Found a African Grey Parrot with the following band:
PGFC Fl 07 042
Can we locate the owner or other information with this band?
Thanks, Al
Sarah Flader @ 8:31 pm:
I found a green Quaker parrot with the ID number NEC4005 at Suffolk Community college Selden, NY. Appears to be a young bird, and in good health. Bird being cared for in my home, please contact me if this bird belongs to I will be happy to return it.