British Birds in Aviculture

Product Information

The British Birds list of Western Palearctic birds sets out the names and taxonomic sequence used in all material published in and by British Birds. In terms of taxonomy and scientific nomenclature, the BB list follows the International Ornithological Union’s IOC World Bird List (v. 13.2). In most cases, English names are the same as the international English names used in the IOC World Bird List, but in some cases more familiar European names are retained (for example, divers and skuas rather than loons and jaegers). Separate columns in the BB list denote differences in common names from the IOC World Bird List and also from the vernacular names used by the British Ornithologists’ Union in the official British List. BBIA is for anybody and everybody within the hobby of breeding & exhibition British birds throughout the world and is especially beneficial to individuals who cant get out and about to the specialist clubs or society's such as people with disabilities etc. These licences are intended to provide birds for a specific breeding programme and the issuing of a licence does not mean that we will issue licences for further taking of wild birds in future.

Many bird species are close to extinction. BirdLife International Data Zone [Accessed: October 2022]We understand that some people may have questions and concerns over the taking of birds from the wild and so I wanted to outline more about our decision. A peregrine falcon. Credit: Pixabay

The behavioural biology of waterbirds. In: Rose, P. E. (ed), The Behavioural Biology of Zoo Animals, 1st edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 153-170 Falconry is an ancient tradition which has been practised in England for centuries and is recognised as an ‘intangible cultural heritage of humanity’ by UNESCO. The applicants wish to breed verifiably British peregrines for use in their falconry activities, and the European Commission’s (EC) Wild Birds Directive includes reference to the sustainable use of species to fulfil cultural requirements, providing this does not affect their conservation status. Depending on where in the country you live, the redpoll may not a familiar bird to you. There are two main types of Redpoll kept in aviculture, the Lesser and the Mealy. The Lessers are the smaller of the two and cross-breeding should be avoided.

October 2023’s British Birds

British finches are often associated with mules, a term used by cage bird breeders to refer to hybrids of finch species bred in captivity, such as that of a goldfinch and canary. There are now strict ringing regulations on British finches in places such as the UK, but they are still kept by aviculturists who care for them in much the same way as canaries. The seed mixture in the UK known as British Finch & Mule is their basic diet.

As far as breeding British goes, these species mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a great number of species kept in captivity as well as mutations of these birds and European versions, such as the Siberian Bullfinch and Goldfinch. These are very similar to our familiar British birds so when purchasing, always find out exactly which bird you are buying. We issue wildlife licences for a range of purposes, and falconry and aviculture are listed as purposes for which licences can be granted under the legislation. This includes the potential to take a small number of birds from the wild for these pursuits – but only if strict welfare and conservation conditions are met. The taking of birds from the wild for these purposes is also practised in a number of other European countries. Birds are, perhaps, the best studied and most well understood group of animals. Their presence on every continent and country and across a wide range of habitats means birds are excellent indicators of the ecological quality of ecosystems. Due to their popularity and strong associations with humans (through bird watching, bird feeding, aviculture and ornithology, for example), birds can help engage people with wider conservation messages. Furthermore, citizen science activities, such as the RSPB’s “Big Garden Birdwatch” (2022), add valuable data to our understanding of population trends and how well certain species are doing. Integrated species conservation strategies

St Just

A small group of British and foreign bird-keeping enthusiasts met in Brighton in 1894 with a view to forming a society devoted to their interests. The newly formed society started with 52 members. In November of that year, the first issue of the society’s magazine carried an editorial in which the joint editors proposed that members should be known as aviculturists. Thus the Avicultural Society came into being and a new word – aviculture – entered the English language. Species extirpated from the wild require investment in captive facilities (eg aviaries in zoos for captive breeding programmes) to ensure their long-term future. More common species, on the other hand, benefit from an investment in the supplementation of their populations through habitat and ecosystem management that enables populations to maintain high levels of growth and expansion. It is true what they say – that “common species are easier to conserve because they are common”. Therefore, knowledge of their ecological requirements allows habitats to be conserved, which, in turn, keeps the species prevalent and reduces the need for intense species-specific conservation action.