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Wild birds and the law
In the UK, all wild birds, their nests and their eggs are protected by law.
In England, Scotland and Wales the legislation that protects wild birds is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and in Northern Ireland, The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
In England and Wales the law has been amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and in Scotland by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.
The amount of protection afforded to wild birds varies depending on whether the species are listed on various Schedules or Licences.
This section explains how wild birds are protected by the law and where you can go to find out more detailed information.
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Wild birds in the UK are protected by several laws. Here we give a breakdown of these laws, and the type of protection they give to birds. More... |
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Use our online form to report wildlife crimes that you have witnessed or heard about from someone else. The more information you can provide, the more useful your report will be. More... |
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In 2009, we received hundreds reports of offences against wild birds, and our latest Birdcrime report includes a breakdown of all the facts and figures. More... |
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Despite legal protection, offences against wild birds continue. The RSPB works with other groups and organisations to investigate crimes and bring offenders to justice. Here we highlight our role and the main law enforcement organisations. More... |
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Our Investigations Section produces a number of publications relating to wild birds and the law. More... |
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Find out more about our current and past campaigns to help birds, both in the UK and around the world. More... |
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