WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981 (AS AMENDED) LICENCE TO PERMIT THE SALE OF CERTAIN CAPTIVE BRED SPECIES OF LIVE BIRD This licence, granted under Section 16(4) (a), 16(5) and 16(5)(a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as 
amended), by the Natural Resource Body for Wales otherwise known as Natural Resources Wales (NRW), being satisfied that as regards the purpose set out at paragraph 1 that there is no other satisfactory solution, 
permits authorised persons to carry out a range of activities against the birds of the species listed and hereby 
grants the following licence which applies only in Wales: - 1. 
This licence permits the sale of certain captive-bred live wild birds, subject to paragraph 2 below. 2. 
For the purposes set out in paragraph 1 above and subject to the conditions below, this licence permits: 
 
(i) 
the sale (which in this licence includes hire, barter or exchange), offer or exposure for sale, 
possession or transport for the purpose of sale; or  
(ii) 
the publication, or the causing to be published, of any advertisement likely to be understood as 
conveying the buying or selling, or the intention of buying or selling; 
 
of any captive bred (as defined by Condition 3 below), live, wild bird of a species not listed in: 
 
a. 
Appendix 1 of this licence (birds which may only be sold under an individual licence from 
Natural Resources Wales); or  
b. 
Annex A of Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97, unless an Article 10 certificate has already 
been obtained; or  
c. 
 Schedule 3 Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 ('the Act') (which are already 
permitted to be sold as long as statutory ringing requirements are met, see Note 3). 
 
The works noted above are licensed for the period **as stated above** and are granted subject to compliance 
with the conditions as specified.  Anything done otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the licence 
may constitute an offence. 
 
Signed for and on behalf of Natural Resources Wales 

CONDITIONS 1. 
Any bird sold under this licence must have been bred in captivity.  A bird shall not be treated as 
bred in captivity unless its parents were lawfully in captivity when the egg from which it hatched was laid.  Documentary evidence of captive breeding must accompany any sale, hire, barter or 
exchange.  See Note 3 for details. 2. 
With the exception of the birds listed in Appendix 2 of this licence (which may be sold without a 
ring), any bird sold under this licence must be ringed with a legible, individually numbered, metal close ring.  This is a ring / band in a continuous circle (without any break, join, or any signs of 
tampering since manufacture), which cannot be removed from the bird when its leg is fully grown. The ring must meet the ringing requirements of the country in which the bird was bred.  For any bird sold under this licence which is on Schedule 4 to the Act, the close ring must meet the marking 
requirements of CITES. 3. 
The owner of any bird to be sold under this licence will, if requested by an Official acting on behalf 
of Natural Resources Wales, or a Police Officer, make the bird available for a sample of blood, tissue or feather to be taken from the bird to be sold.  The sample will be taken by a qualified veterinary surgeon.  Such a sample may be used to establish the ancestry of the bird. 4. 
No person convicted of an offence to which this paragraph applies may use this licence unless, in 
respect of that offence, either (1) they were dismissed with an admonition, or (2) they are a 
rehabilitated person for the purposes of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and their conviction is treated as spent. A person may also use this licence where, in respect of such an offence, a court has made an order discharging them absolutely. This paragraph applies to offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Deer Act 1991, the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, the Hunting Act 2004, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (all as amended). 5. 
Failure to act within the purpose of this licence as set out in paragraph 1 or failure to comply with 
the terms and conditions of the licence may mean that the licence cannot be relied upon and an offence could therefore be committed. The maximum penalty available for an offence under the Act is a level 5 fine (£5,000) and/or a six month custodial sentence 
 
 
NOTES 1. 
The Wildlife and Countryside (Ringing of Certain Birds) Regulations 1982 (SI 1982/1220) specifies 
how captive-bred birds should be ringed.  Close rings can be obtained from the British Bird Council or the International Ornithological Association. 2. 
Persons intending to rely on this general licence must be able to demonstrate that birds are legally 
held and captive-bred, and are advised: only to purchase birds from breeders who are able to 
satisfactorily demonstrate that they are complying with relevant regulations; to confirm, insofar as 
they are able, the bird's identification and age are correct; to check that the bird is correctly ringed, 
and always to obtain signed and dated written documentary evidence of captive-breeding from the breeder.  Documentation should cite the bird's species, ring number and any other identification 
mark (eg microchip), hatch date, along with details for the parent birds, and the breeder's contact 
details. 3. 
Bird listed on Schedule 3 Part 1 of the Act are already permitted to be sold under the Act, providing 
the ringing requirements of SI 1982/1220 are met. 4. 
A licence in similar terms has been issued by Natural England in respect of England and by the 
Scottish Executive in respect of Scotland. 5. 
This licence may be modified or revoked at any time. 
 

APPENDIX 1: Birds that cannot be sold under this licence 
 
Mute Swan 


Cygnus olor 
Ruddy Duck 


Oxyura jamaicensis 
Egyptian Goose 
 
 
Alopochen aegyptiacus 
APPENDIX 2: Birds that do not need a ring to be sold under this licence  
 
Mandarin Duck 
 
 
Aix galericulata  
 
 
Carolina / Wood Duck  
 
Aix sponsa 


Pintail  


Anas acuta 


American Wigeon 
 
 
Anas americana  
 
 
Shoveler 


Anas clypeata  
 
 
Common Teal  
 
 
Anas crecca  
 
 
Blue-winged Teal 
 
 
Anas discors   
 
 
Wigeon  


Anas penelope  
 
 
Mallard 


Anas platyrhynchos   
 
Garganey 


Anas querquedula 
Black Duck 


Anas rubripes  
 
 
Gadwall 


Anas strepera  
 
 
White-fronted Goose  
 
Anser albifrons  
 
 
Greylag Goose 
 
 
Anser anser   
 
 
Pink-footed Goose  
 
 
Anser brachyrhynchus  
 
Snow Goose  
 
 
Anser caerulescens   
 
Lesser White-fronted Goose  
Anser erythropus  
 
 
Bean Goose  
 
 
Anser fabalis   
 
 
Ring-necked Duck 
 
 
Aythya collaris  
 
 
Pochard 


Aythya ferina   
 
Tufted Duck 


Aythya fuligula  
 
 
Scaup  


Aythya marila   
 
Canada Goose 
 
 
Branta canadensis  * 
Barnacle Goose 
 
 
Branta leucopsis  
 
 
Brent Goose  
 
 
Branta bernicla 
Goldeneye 


Bucephala clangula 
Long-tailed Duck 
 
 
Clangula hyemalis 
Bewick's Swan 
 
 
Cygnus bewickii 
Whooper Swan 
 
 
C*ygnus cygnus*  
 
 
Harlequin Duck 
 
 
Histrionicus histrionicus  
 
Velvet Scoter  
 
 
Melanitta fusca 
Common Scoter 
 
 
Melanitta nigra 
Surf Scoter 


Melanitta perspicillata  
 
Smew  


Mergus albellus  
 
 
Hooded Merganser 
 
 
Mergus cucullatus  
 
 
Goosander 


Mergus merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser 
 
Mergus serrator 
Red-crested Pochard  
 
Netta rufina  


Stellers Eider  
 
 
Polysticta stelleri  
 
 
Eider Duck 


Somateria mollissima  
 
King Eider 


Somateria spectabilis  
 
Ruddy Shelduck 
 
 
Tadorna ferruginea   
 
Shelduck 


Tadorna tadorna * 
except *Branta canadensis leucopareia* - Aleutian Canada Goose