Bands Across North America

In 1902, Dr. Paul Bartsch of the Smithsonian Institution was the first to band birds in North America - 23 black-crowned night herons near Washington, D.C. Many banders followed, and banding and recovery records have been kept since 1914.

Below is a search function for all migratory bird banding and recovery locations since 1914. To search, choose a species, a state/province or flyway, and a year in the drop-down menus, and click "GO."

The resulting map will show locations of recovery and banding that meet your criteria. Click on a red bird icon for information about the location of the recovery, and follow the link provided to see where the bird was banded. Or select a green bird icon to view banding location, following the link to find where it was recovered. Use the directional menu and zoom tool on the left to change your map view.

To search for a specific band, go to the "Search by Band Number" box below, type in the band number and click "GO." The resulting map will show the banding location and the recovery location of the bird that wore that particular band.

Search Band Database

Step One - Species

Choose a species you would like more information on

Species: American WigeonBarrow's GoldeneyeBlack DuckBlack ScoterBlack-bellied Whistling DuckBlue-winged TealBuffleheadCanvasbackCinnamon TealCommon EiderCommon GoldeneyeCommon MerganserEurasian WigeonFulvous Whistling DuckGadwallGreater ScaupGreen-winged TealHarlequin DuckHooded MerganserKing EiderLesser ScaupLong-tailed DuckMallardMallard X Black Duck HybridMexican Duck X Mallard HybridMottled DuckNorthern PintailNorthern ShovelerRed-breasted MerganserRedheadRing-necked DuckRuddy DuckSurf ScoterWhite-winged ScoterWood Duck Aleutian Cackling GooseAtlantic BrantBlack BrantCanada GooseEmperor GooseGreater Snow GooseGreater White-fronted GooseLesser Snow GooseRoss' GooseSnow X Ross Goose HybridTule White-fronted GooseWestern Alaska Cackling Goose Trumpeter SwanTundra Swan American CrowBand-tailed PigeonClapper RailCommon MoorhenCommon SnipeCootFish CrowKing RailMourning DoveNorthwestern CrowPurple GallinuleSandhill CraneScaly-naped PigeonSoraVirginia RailWhite-tipped DoveWhite-winged DoveWoodcockYellow RailZenaida Dove

Step Two - Banded In:

Select the method for which you would like to select the banding criteria

State Flyway Anywhere

State/Province: AlabamaAlaskaAlbertaArizonaArkansasAt SeaBahama IslandsBelizeBermudaBritish ColumbiaCaliforniaColombiaColoradoConnecticutCosta RicaCubaDelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaDominican Republic / HaitiEl SalvadorFloridaGeorgiaHondurasIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaJamaicaKansasKentuckyLesser AntillesLouisianaMaineManitobaMarylandMassachusettsMexicoMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew BrunswickNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNewfoundland And LabNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthwest TerritorieNova ScotiaNunavutOceaniaOhioOklahomaOntarioOregonPanamaPennsylvaniaPrince Edward IslandPuerto RicoQuebecRhode IslandRussiaSaskatchewanSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingYukon Territory

Flyway: MississippiAtlanticCentralCanadaPacificAlaskaCarribbeanCentral AmericaOtherSouth America

Step Three - Recovered In:

Select the method for which you would like to select the recovery criteria

State Flyway Anywhere

State/Province: AlabamaAlaskaAlbertaArizonaArkansasAt SeaBahama IslandsBelizeBermudaBritish ColumbiaCaliforniaColombiaColoradoConnecticutCosta RicaCubaDelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaDominican Republic / HaitiEl SalvadorFloridaGeorgiaHondurasIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaJamaicaKansasKentuckyLesser AntillesLouisianaMaineManitobaMarylandMassachusettsMexicoMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew BrunswickNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNewfoundland And LabNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthwest TerritorieNova ScotiaNunavutOceaniaOhioOklahomaOntarioOregonPanamaPennsylvaniaPrince Edward IslandPuerto RicoQuebecRhode IslandRussiaSaskatchewanSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingYukon Territory

Flyway: MississippiAtlanticCentralCanadaPacificAlaskaCarribbeanCentral AmericaOtherSouth America

Step Four - Date Range

Select a single year or "all years"

Single Year All Years

Single Year: 201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980197919781977197619751974197319721971197019691968196719661965196419631962196119601959195819571956195519541953195219511950194919481947194619451944194319421941194019391938193719361935193419331932193119301929192819271926192519241923192219211920191919181917191619151914

* Please note that results for 2012 will include only data collected through May 2012.

Search By Band Number

Only valid for bands already reported.
To report a band, go to ReportBand.gov

Legend

• Banding Location (only displayed if band has been recovered and reported)
• Recovered Location

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Banding data provided by USGS