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.