A List of Birds for Unrestricted Entry Into the United States
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A List of Birds for Unrestricted Entry into the United States by Michael Cunningham and Joseph Griffith (AFA 's recommended list of low-risk birds as presented to the Department of the Interior.) The following is a list of birds by order and family SPHENISCIFORMES: Penguins for unrestricted entry into the United States. Where Spheniscidae Penguins there is a considered need to regulate orders, families, genera or species, they are so noted. PROCELLARIIFORMES: Tube-nosed Swimmers It can be said that there is not sufficient information Diomedeidae Albatrosses Procellariidae Shearwaters available on the majority of birds that have not been Hydrobatidae Storm Petrels included in previous lists to justify their entry on an Pe/ecanoididae Diving Petrels unrestricted basis. The identical argument can be made PELECANIFORMES: Pelicans and Allies for the birds that have been included on such lists. Phaethontidae Tropic-birds There is not enough information on any birds to make Pelecanidae Pelicans a clear judgment. The list below takes note of those Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants Anhingidae Anhingas birds that present a greater potential risk than others. Sulidae Boobies In addition to the birds occuring on the list, pro Fregatidae Frigate-birds vision should be made to allow the unrestricted entry CICONIIFORMES: Herons and Allies of all phenotypic mutations and all hybrids. Muta Ardeidae Herons tions are of great value to the breeder and would be Cochleariidae Boatbill Herons subjected to heavy pressure from predators should Balaenicipitidae Shoe-billed Stork they escape confinement, not to mention the genetic Scopidae Hammerhead Ciconiidae Storks weaknesses that accompany many mutations. The Threskiornithidae Ibises majority of hybrids would present no threat since Phoenicopoteridae Flamingos they are sterile. Fertile hybrids would have to find ANSERIFORMES: Ducks, Geese and Swans others, or members of one of its parent stocks and this Anhimidae Screamers is most unlikely. Anatidae Ducks, Geese and Swans No provision has been made for Endangered Species. F ALCONIFORMES: Birds of Prey There are a number of tnese being bred in captivity; captive bred stock out-weighing wild populations in Because of the extreme delicacy of the niches occupied by most of the birds of prey, and because of their rapid desertion of habitats when many cases. It is proper that these birds should be encroached upon by man, there is a need to regulate all of the falconi sold or traded to those who are interested in them. formes. No zoo, organization or person should be allowed to import these birds except for a captive breeding program. Further, if the department shows a sufficient spirit of cooperation, breeders in this country would be more than willing to help with a survey that will GALLIFORMES: Fowl-like Birds clearly establish the captive status of Endangered Entry is already regulated by the USDA. Experimental introduction by Birds. any agency or person should be stopped. The tentative list of birds for unrestricted entry GRUIFORMES: Cranes, Rails and Allies omits all of the nectar feeding birds of the world, as Mesitornithidae Mesitae well as all but one of the tanagers. It is difficult to Turnicidae Hemipodes Gruidae Cranes imagine any of the nectar feeding families of birds as Armidae Limpkin being injurious, rather, one would think of them as Psophiidae Trumpeters Rallidae Rails, Gallinules and Coots beneficial; assuming that they would be able to sur Heliornithidae Finfoots vive in the United States, exclusive of Hawaii. Rhynochetidae Kagu Cariamidae Seriemas STRUTHIONIFORMES: Ostriches Eurypygidae Sun bittern Otidae Bustards Struthionidae Ostriches CHARADRIIFORMES: Shorebirds, Gulls and Auks RHEIFORMES: Rheas Jacanidae Jacanas Rheidae Rheas Rostratulidae Painted Snipes Haematopodidae Oystercatchers CASSUARIIFORMES: Cassowaries, Emus Charadriidae Plovers and Lapwings Scolopacidae Sandpipers and Allies Cassuariidae Recurvirostridae Stilts and Avocets Cassowaries Phalaropodidae Dromiceidae Emus Phalaropes Dromadidae Crab Plover TINAMIFORMES: Tinarnous Burhinidae Stone Curlews Glareolidae Coursers and Pratincoles Tinamidae Thinocoridae Seedsnipes Tinamous Chionididae Sheath bills PODICIPEDIFORMES: Grebes Stercorariidae Sku as and 1eagers Laridae Gulls and Terns Podicipedidae Rhynchopidae Skimmers Grebes Alcidae Auks and Allies GA VII FORMES: Loons PTEROCLIFORMES: Sandgrouse Gaviidae Loons Pteroclidae Sandgrouse 18 COLUMBIFORMES: Pigeons and Doves Oxyruncidae Sharp bills Pittidae Pittas Co/umbidae Pigeons and Doves A canthisittidae New Zealand Wrens Philepittidae Asities, False Sunbirds PSITTACIFORMES: Parrots Menuridae Lyre birds A trichornithidae Scrub-birds These birds fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Alaudidae Larks Welfare. Hirundinidae Swallows and Martins Campephagidae Cuckoo-Shrikes and Minivets CUCULIFORMES: Cuckoos and Allies Regulate the genera Pterodocys and Coracina. These are the most shrike-like of this family. Musophagidae Mouracos Cuculidae Cuckoos, Anis, Roadrunners and Dicruridae Drongos Coucals This entire family of large aggressive birds should be regulated. All of the parasitic cuckoos of the subfamily Cuculinae, the ground cuckoos (Neomorphinae) and the Coucals (Centropodinac) should be Oriolidae Old World Orioles regulated. The first because they are parasitic and the latter two be Corvidae Crows, Jays, and Magpies cause they are predatory. The remaining two subfamilies (Phoenico All of these birds should be regulated. phaeinae and Crotophaginae) should have unlimited entry. Cal/aeidae Wattlebirds STRIGIFORMES: Owls Grallinidae Mudnest-builders Cracticidae Butcherbirds and Bellmagpies The remarks about Diurnal Birds of Prey should apply to this order. No Although already controlled by the Australian government, these birds zoo, institution or individual should be allowed to import owls, except should be regulated. for captive breeding purposes. Ptilonorhynchidae Bowerbirds CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Goatsuckers Paradisaeidae Birds of Paradise Paridae Titmice Steatornithidae Oil bird The genus Parus should be regulated because of the possibility of Podargidae Frogmouths hybridization with native Parids. Nyctibiidae Potoos Aegothelidae Owlet-frogmou ths Certhiidae Creepers Caprimulgidae Nightjars Sittidae Nuthatches and Allies Timaliidae Babblers and Allies APODIFORMES: Swifts and Hunningbirds The genus Garrulax should be regulated. Apodidae Swifts Pycnonotidae Bulbuls Hemiprocnidae Crested Swifts Chloropseidae Leafbirds and Allies Trochilidae Hummingbirds Cinclidae Dippers Troglodytidae Wrens TROGONIFORMES: Trogons Mimidae Thrashers and Mockingbirds Turdidae Thrushes Trogonidae Trogons The genus Turdus should be regulated because of the possibility of hybridization. COLIIFORMES: Mousebirds Sylviidae Old World Warblers Coliidae Colies Muscicapidae Old World Flycatchers Prunellidae Accen tors CORACIIFORMES: Kingfishers and Allies Motacillidae Pipits and Wagtails Bombycillidae Waxwings and Allies Coraciiformes Kingfishers Artamidae Wood-Swallows These birds are verv predatory and may well cause problems if acci Vangidae Vanga-Shrikes dentally introduced: This family should be regulated because there is no point in introducing (even accidentally) additional predators to the environment. Todidae Todies Momotidae Motmots Laniidae Shrikes Meropidae Bee-eaters As with the preceding family, there is no point in introducing predators Coraciidae Rollers to the environment. This family is also aggressive and should be regulated. Sturnidae Starlings The genera Sturn us and Acridotheres should be regulated. Upupidae Hoopoes and Woodhooes Bucerotidae Horn bills Meliphagidae Honeyeaters Nectariniidae Sunbirds PICIFORMES: Woodpeckers and Allies Dicaeidae Flowerpeckers Zosteropidae White-Eyes Capitonidae Barbets There has been some discussion to the effect that Zosterops might com Jndicatoridae Honeyguides pete with native Vireos. Where these birds have managed to invade Ga/bulidae J acamars islands, they have entered habitats with niches vacant. There is little Bucconidae Puffbirds likelihood that they would be able to compete with a continental Ramphastidae Toucans population. Picidae ·Woodpeckers, Wrynecks, Piculets The genus Dendroscopus should be regulated. One may assume that Vireonidae Vireos their ecological niches are already filled in this country, but the danger Drepanididae Hawaiian Honeycreepers lies in the very real possibility that they could hybridize with native Parulidae Wood Warblers birds of the same genus. Jcteridae Troupials and Allies The parasitic genera Molothus and Scaphidura should be regulated. PASSERIFORMES: Perching Birds Thraupidae Tanagers Eurylaimidae Broad bills It is noteworthy that the Department of the Interior considers only one Dendroco/aptidae Woodcreepers species of this entire family non-injurious. Surely this is an error. Furnariidae Ovenbirds Formicariidae Ant birds Fringillidae (includes Emberizinae) New World Seedeaters Conopophagidae Antpipits Ploceidae (includes Estrildinae) Old World Seedeaters Rhinocryptidae Tapaculos Of these, the genera Quelea and Padda should be regulated, because of Cotingidae Cotingas the crop damage they do in their native ranges. The species Erythrura Pipridae Manak ins parasina falls into the same category. The species Carpodacus erythrinus Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers should be regulated. This bird is rapidly extending its range into western Phytotomidae Pian tcu tters Europe and it would seem to be as adaptable as C. mexican us • 19 .