Frequently asked questions
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Collecting and owning wild bird eggs
It is against the law to collect and own wild birds’ eggs. Only if you are a landowner can you take the eggs of a few named species under the terms of a general licence.
All wild birds are protected. It is an offence, apart from certain specific exceptions, to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. It is also an offence to take or destroy an egg of any wild bird. Special protection is provided for rarer birds listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (and subsequent amendments). This makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb a wild bird while it is building a nest or when it is in or near a nest with eggs or young; or to disturb their dependent young.
In England and Wales, the maximum penalty for taking the egg of a wild bird is £5000, or six months imprisonment, or both a fine and imprisonment. In Scotland, the penalty is £1000 for a common species and £5000 for Schedule 1 species. This penalty can be imposed in respect of each bird, nest or egg affected.
It is also illegal to possess wild birds’ eggs if they were illegally taken from the wild after 1954. This was the date of the Protection of Birds Act, which has now been repealed and replaced.
The sale or exchange of birds' eggs, regardless of their age, is illegal. If you already own a collection and do not want it any more, you could consider donating the eggs to a museum.
For further information on nesting birds, see the RSPCA factsheet Living with nesting birds (PDF 142KB)
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