Falcons fetch the highest price in the international market. As falconry is very popular in West Asia and certain European countries like Germany and Spain, most of them are illegally transported there. The raptors are trained in most cases by the buyers to hunt partridges, quails, bustards and small mammals such as hares. On the other hand, Parakeets, Mynahs and Munias are mostly kept as pets. The Red Munia is kept for its song and colour.
Black magic is another area where the birds are used.
The owl s bone and meat, for example, are used for magical purposes. Other birds like pheasants, jungle fowls and partridges are favourites on the dining table. Pakistan, Nepal and West Asia are the main regions where these birds are smuggled to. In 1991, a blanket ban was imposed on the export of Indian birds. The government did allow the export of domesticated birds such as the Bengali Finch, Zebra Finch and Budgerigar.