Federal Register: March 15, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 49)]
[Notices]
[Page 12710-12716]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr05-115]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Final List of Bird Species to Which the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Does Not Apply

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We are publishing a final list of the nonnative bird species
that have been introduced by humans into the United States or its
territories and to which the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) does not
apply. This action is required by the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act
(MBTRA) of 2004. The MBTRA amends the MBTA by stating that it applies
only to migratory bird species that are native to the United States or
its territories, and that a native migratory bird is one that is
present as a result of natural biological or ecological processes. This
notice identifies those species that are not protected by the MBTA,
even though they belong to biological families referred to in treaties
that the MBTA implements, as their presence in the United States and
its territories is solely the result of intentional or unintentional
human-assisted introductions.

Criteria.
We revised the first sentence of criteria 3 by replacing
``confidently attributed solely to'' with ``best (or most reasonably)
explained by.'' As revised, this sentence now reads as follows: ``All
of its [each species] known occurrences in the United States can be
best (or most reasonably) explained by intentional or unintentional
human-assisted introductions to the wild.'' This change reflects the
reality that there is sometimes a certain amount of uncertainty about
the origin or provenance of individuals of some species that appear in
the United States. For example, while it may be possible that an
individual of a species with no known history of natural occurrence in
the United States represents a natural vagrant, the most plausible or
reasonable explanation is often that the individual involved represents
an intentional introduction or escape from captivity. This criteria is
thus consistent with the requirement for substantial evidence of
natural occurrence before adding a species to the list of species
protected by the MBTA at 50 CFR 10.13.

The List. After further review of the literature and the draft
list, we removed 3 species and added 15.

Lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus), saker falcon (F. cherrug), and
barbary falcon (F. pelegrinoides) are removed because of a lack of
substantial evidence that they meet the criteria for inclusion.
Lanner and saker falcons are regularly imported into this country
for use in recreational falconry or bird control at airports, and are
believed to sometimes escape from their handlers, but we have found no
literature documenting the presence of escapes in the United States.
The barbary falcon is currently protected under the MBTA as a
subspecies of the peregrine falcon (F. peregrinus), in accordance with
the taxonomic treatment of the AOU (1998) Check-list. Like the lanner
and saker, barbary falcons are regularly imported into this country for
use in recreational falconry or bird control at airports, and are
believed to sometimes escape from their handlers, but we have found no
literature documenting the presence of escapes in the United States.
The removal of these three species or subspecies from this list
does not determine their qualification for protection under the MBTA.
The following 14 species were overlooked in the notice of January 4
but there is substantial evidence of nonnative human-introduced
occurrence in the United States or its territories, so we add them to
the final list (the authorities upon which these determinations are
based are noted parenthetically):
Nettapus coromandelianus, Cotton Pygmy-goose (Pranty 2004).
Pelecanus rufescens, Pink-backed Pelican (McKee and Erickson 2002;
Pranty 2004).
Anhinga melanogaster, Oriental Darter (McKee and Erickson 2002).
Platalea leucorodia, Eurasian Spoonbill (Pranty 2004).
Threskiornis aethiopicus, Sacred Ibis (Pranty 2004).
Terathopius ecuadatus, Bateleur (Small 1994).
Grus virgo, Demoiselle Crane (Bull 1974; Cole and McCaskie 2004).
Vanellus spinosus, Spur-winged Lapwing (Bull 1974).
Corvus albicollis, White-necked Raven (Pranty 2004).
Corvus nasicus, Cuban Crow (Zeranski and Baptist 1990).
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Red-billed Chough (Zeranski and Baptist
1990).
Dendrocitta vagabunda, Rufous Treepie (Bull 1974).
Saxicoloides fulicata, Indian Robin (Bull 1974).
Turdus ruficollis, Dark-throated Thrush (Bull 1974).
Cyanerpes cyaneus, Red-legged Honeycreeper (Pranty 2004).

The Final List: What Are the Bird Species Not Protected by the MBTA?

We made this list as comprehensive as possible by including all
nonnative, human-assisted species that belong to any of the families
referred to in the treaties and whose occurrence(s) in the United
States and its territories have been documented in the scientific
literature. It is not, however, an exhaustive list of all the nonnative
species that could potentially appear in the United States or its
territories as a result of human assistance. New species of nonnative
birds are being reported annually in the United States, and it is
impossible to predict which species might appear in the near future.
The appearance of a species on this list does not preclude its
addition to the list of migratory birds protected by the MBTA (50 CFR
10.13) at some later date should substantial evidence come to light
confirming natural occurrence in the United States or its territories.
The 125 species on this list are arranged by family according to
the American Ornithologists' Union (1998, as amended by Banks et al.
2003). Within families, species are arranged alphabetically by
scientific name. Common and scientific names follow Monroe and Sibley
(1993). Where the names adopted by the American Ornithologists' Union
differ from those of Monroe and Sibley, they are given in parentheses.
Species with established, self-sustaining populations are denoted with
an asterisk (*).

Family Anatidae

Aix galericulata, Mandarin Duck
Alopochen aegyptiacus, Egyptian Goose
Anas hottentota, Hottentot Teal
Anas luzonica, Philippine Duck
Anser anser, Graylag Goose
Anser anser `domesticus', Domestic Goose
Anser cygnoides, Swan Goose
Anser indicus, Bar-headed Goose
Branta ruficollis, Red-breasted Goose
Callonetta leucophrys, Ringed Teal
Chenonetta jubata, Maned Duck
Coscoroba coscoroba, Coscoroba Swan
Cygnus atratus, Black Swan
Cygnus melanocoryphus, Black-necked Swan
Cygnus olor, Mute Swan*
Dendrocygna viduata, White-faced Whistling-Duck
Neochen jubata, Orinoco Goose
Netta peposaca, Rosy-billed Pochard
Netta rufina, Red-crested Pochard
Nettapus coromandelianus, Cotton Pygmy-goose
Tadorna ferruginea, Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna, Common Shelduck

Family Pelecanidae

Pelecanus onocroatalis, Great White Pelican
Pelecanus rufescens, Pink-backed Pelican

Family Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocorax gaimardi, Red-legged Cormorant

Family Anhingidae

Anhinga melanogaster, Oriental Darter

Family Threskiornithidae

Platalea leucorodia, Eurasian Spoonbill
Threskiornis aethiopicus, Sacred Ibis

Family Ciconiidae

Ciconia abdimii, Abdim's Stork
Ciconia ciconia, White Stork
Ciconia episcopus, Woolly-necked Stork
Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, Black-necked Stork

Family Cathartidae

Sarcoramphus papa, King Vulture

Family Phoenicopteridae

Phoenicopterus chilensis, Chilean Flamingo
Phoenicopterus minor, Lesser Flamingo

Family Accipitridae

Buteo polyosoma, Red-backed Hawk
Buteogallus urubitinga, Great Black-Hawk
Gyps sp., Griffon-type Old World vulture
Terathopius ecuadatus, Bateleur

Family Rallidae

Aramides cajanea, Gray-necked Wood-Rail

Family Gruiidae

Balearica pavonina, Black Crowned-Crane
Balearica regulorum, Gray Crowned-Crane

[[Page 12715]]

Grus antigone, Sarus Crane
Grus virgo, Demoiselle Crane

Family Charadriidae

Vanellus chilensis, Southern Lapwing
Vanellus spinosus, Spur-winged Lapwing

Family Laridae

Larus novaehollandiae, Silver Gull

Family Columbidae

Caloenas nicobarica, Nicobar Pigeon
Chalcophaps indica, Emerald Dove
Columba livia, Rock Pigeon*
Columba palumbus, Common Wood-Pigeon
Gallicolumba luzonica, Luzon Bleeding-heart
Geopelia cuneata, Diamond Dove
Geopelia humeralis, Bar-shouldered Dove
Geopelia striata, Zebra Dove*
Geophaps lophotes, Crested Pigeon
Geophaps plumifera, Spinifex Pigeon
Geophaps smithii, Partridge Pigeon
Leucosarcia melanoleuca, Wonga Pigeon
Phaps chalcoptera, Common Bronzewing
Starnoenas cyanocephala, Blue-headed Quail-Dove
Streptopelia bitorquata, Island Collared-Dove*
Streptopelia chinensis, Spotted Dove*
Streptopelia decaocto, Eurasian Collared-Dove*
Streptopelia risoria, Ringed Turtle-Dove*

Family Strigidae

Pulsatrix perspicillata, Spectacled Owl

Family Trochilidae

Anthracothorax nigricollis, Black-throated Mango

Family Corvidae

Callocitta colliei, Black-throated Magpie-Jay
Corvus albicollis, White-necked Raven
Corvus corone, Carrion Crow
Corvus nasicus, Cuban Crow
Corvus splendens, House Crow
Cyanocorax caeruleus, Azure Jay
Cyanocorax sanblasianus, San Blas Jay
Dendrocitta vagabunda, Rufous Treepie
Garrulus glandarius, Eurasian Jay
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Red-billed Chough
Urocissa erythrorhyncha, Blue Magpie (=Red-billed Blue-Magpie)

Family Alaudidae

Alauda japonica, Japanese Skylark
Lullula arborea, Wood Lark
Melanocorypha calandra, Calandra Lark
Melanocorypha mongolica, Mongolian Lark

Family Paridae

Parus caeruleus, Blue Tit
Parus major, Great Tit
Parus varius, Varied Tit

Family Cinclidae

Cinclus cinclus, White-throated (=Eurasian) Dipper

Family Sylviidae

Cettia diphone, Japanese Bush-Warbler*
Sylvia atricapilla, Blackcap

Family Turdidae

Copsychus malbaricus, White-rumped Shama*
Copsychus saularis, Oriental Magpie-Robin
Erithacus rubecula, European Robin
Luscinia akahige, Japanese Robin
Luscinia komadori, Ryukyu Robin
Luscinia megarhynchos, Common (=European) Nightingale
Saxicoloides fulicata, Indian Robin
Turdus philomelos, Song Thrush
Turdus ruficollis, Dark-throated Thrush

Family Prunellidae

Prunella modularis, Hedge Accentor (=Dunnock)

Family Thraupidae

Piranga rubriceps, Red-hooded Tanager
Thraupis episcopus, Blue-gray Tanager
Cyanerpes cyaneus, Red-legged Honeycreeper

Family Emberizidae

Emberiza citrinella, Yellowhammer
Gubernatrix cristata, Yellow Cardinal
Loxigilla violacea, Greater Antillean Bullfinch
Melopyrrha nigra, Cuban Bullfinch
Paroaria capitata, Yellow-billed Cardinal*
Paroaria coronata, Red-crested Cardinal*
Paroaria dominicana, Red-cowled Cardinal
Paroaria gularis, Red-capped Cardinal
Sicalis flaveola, Saffron Finch*
Tiaris canora, Cuban Grassquit

Family Cardinalidae

Passerina leclacherii, Orange-breasted Bunting

Family Icteridae

Gymnostinops montezuma, Montezuma Oropendola
Icterus icterus, Troupial*
Icterus pectoralis, Spot-breasted Oriole*
Leistes (=Sturnella) militaris, Red-breasted Blackbird (=Greater
Red-breasted Meadowlark)

Family Fringillidae

Carduelis cannabina, Eurasian Linnet
Carduelis carduelis, European Goldfinch
Carduelis chloris, European Greenfinch
Carduelis cucullata, Red Siskin*
Carduelis magellanica, Hooded Siskin
Loxia pysopsittacus, Parrot Crossbill
Serinus canaria, Island (=Common) Canary*
Serinus leucopygius, White-rumped Seedeater
Serinus mozambicus, Yellow-fronted Canary*

The MBTA also does not apply to many other bird species, including
(1) nonnative species that have not been introduced into the U.S. or
its territories, and (2) species (native or nonnative) that belong to
the families not referred to in any of the four treaties underlying the
MBTA. The second category includes the Tinamidae (tinamous), Cracidae
(chachalacas), Phasianidae (grouse, ptarmigan, and turkeys),
Odontophoridae (New World quail), Burhinidae (thick-knees), Glareolidae
(pratincoles), Pteroclididae (sandgrouse), Psittacidae (parrots),
Todidae (todies), Dicruridae (drongos), Meliphagidae (honeyeaters),
Monarchidae (monarchs), Pycnonotidae (bulbuls), Sylviinae (Old World
warblers, except as listed in Russian treaty), Muscicapidae (Old World
flycatchers, except as listed in Russian treaty), Timaliidae
(wrentits), Zosteropidae (white-eyes), Sturnidae (starlings, except as
listed in Japanese treaty), Coerebidae (bananaquits), Drepanidinae
(Hawaiian honeycreepers), Passeridae (Old World sparrows, including
house or English sparrow), Ploceidae (weavers), and Estrildidae
(estrildid finches), as well as numerous other families not represented
in the United States or its territories. A partial list of the
nonnative human-introduced species included in category 2 is available
at http://migratorybirds.fws.gov.

Author

John L. Trapp, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory
Bird Management, Mail Stop 4107, 4501 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington,
VA 22203.