Apply for a bird licence

Science, research, education, surveys or photography

You can apply for a licence for the purpose of:

• science, education, research, surveys, photography
• ringing or marking or examining any ring or mark (non Schedule 1 birds)

Download the application form for scientific, research, education, surveys or photography.

Your application must contain two references from specialists familiar with your work. Download the reference template.

Ring, mark or nest record Schedule 1 birds

If you need a licence to nest record, ring or mark wild Schedule 1 birds you must apply to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

Bird control

You can apply for a licence to control birds to:

• preserve public health and public safety
• prevent spread of disease
• prevent serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit and growing timber
• conserve wild birds
• conserve flora and fauna
• protect any collection of wild birds

Download the application form for a licence to control birds.

Preserve air safety

Download the application form for the licence to control birds to preserve air safety.

Fisheries and fish-eating birds

You can apply for a licence to control fish-eating birds if you have tried non-lethal methods first.

Applying for a licence to control fish-eating birds on a river to conserve Atlantic salmon or sea trout.

Applying for a licence to control fish-eating birds on a coarse or trout fishery.

Falconry and aviculture

Download the application form for a licence to kill wild birds for falconry.

Public exhibition or competition

Check the general licences. 

Taxidermy 

Find out what licence for taxidermy you may need.

Charges

Find out how much we charge for a bird licence application.

Timescales

Find out how long it takes us to process bird licence applications.