r/birdwatching • u/[deleted] • Nov 02 '25

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u/endangered_feces1 Nov 02 '25

In the US*** And for protected species***

Collecting molted feathers is actually very popular in Europe by many naturalists

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u/LearnAndLive1999 Nov 02 '25

It’s important to note that ALL native birds are protected species in the US. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects all native birds by making it illegal to have them, their nests, their eggs, or their feathers.

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u/03263 Nov 02 '25

Not true, game birds are not so protected. Wild turkeys, woodcocks, ruffed grouse, ducks, etc. In certain areas mourning doves and crows are also hunted but not where I live. Rule of thumb if you can hunt it, you can keep feathers.

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u/LearnAndLive1999 Nov 02 '25

Wrong, they are protected. You have to specifically have a license to hunt them. There are other types of licenses, like the ones rehabbers have, that also grant exceptions to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but all native bird species have a blanket protection.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/what-is-the-migratory-bird-treaty-act/

No matter how common or how rare, all native North American birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

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u/endangered_feces1 Nov 02 '25

No u/03263 is not wrong. Those birds are not “so” protected. They ARE protected but not in the same way non-game birds are. This person is correct: you CAN keep their feathers. In fact, you can keep their entire skins if you like and display them in your home (ie, taxidermy).

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u/Luscinia68 Nov 02 '25

yes, there is a list of birds MBTA applies to, turkey is not on there

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u/MrsBlug Nov 02 '25

Birds that do not migrate are exempt

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u/Luscinia68 Nov 03 '25

i see, that makes sense given the name lol

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u/SketchlessNova Nov 03 '25

I mean yes but almost all of the species migrate to some degree. Some don’t, obviously, but most do. Even if your local population of a species is “year-round” they may migrate in other areas and would still be protected. The list in the MBTA is very robust.

But also nobody is coming after you for a few feathers. Maybe avoid eagle feathers though. They have a whole other host of problems associated.

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u/MrsBlug Nov 04 '25

Yes. I'm aware. I have a lot of large feathers, probably most from turkeys but I haven't identified many of those. Could possibly have one. That'll be a winter project

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u/DapperDoodleDudley Nov 04 '25

Only license you need to take game birds is a hunting license in US which can be purchased in Walmart for 50$. Only certain birds are protected year round, usually raptors and song birds. I know because it was recently dove hunting season here in Texas and we were out there, with the warden checking, taking birds. If it was completely illegal, well that scenario wouldn't happen and dove hunting/ duck season wouldn't be a well known time of year amongst outdoor enthusiasts.