What Is A Leg Band? How Can You Read It?

A closed leg band is a solid piece of metal, which is engraved with a specific set of numbers and letters for easy identification. Should the bird ever be lost or stolen, a band is a great help and protection to prove ownership and find their way home. It also is a great help to know how old the bird is should they ever change homes.

Closed leg bands are put on a baby birds leg at a week or so in age while the bones are still small and more flexible before they are fully calcified. If it is the correct size for the bird it will never fall off or cause a health concern so long as you provide a safe environment free of sharp or pointed things that the band could get caught on, which you would want to do regardless of the bird having a band or not.

Each band will have from 3-5 different sets of letters or numbers on it. Below are some examples of what you might find, and what they mean.

A set of letters written lengthwise around the band will often be the initials of the specific aviary or breeder that the bird came from.
Here for example are the initials of our aviary (CLBA) for Cute Little Birdies Aviary.