Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§715j “Migratory birds” defined

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - PROTECTION OF MIGRATORY GAME AND INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION › § 715j

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines which birds count as migratory for this part of the law and for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It uses the species lists in four international agreements: the treaty with Great Britain (August 16, 1916; 39 Stat. 1702), the treaty with Mexico (February 7, 1936; 50 Stat. 1311), the convention with Japan (March 4, 1972), and the convention with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (November 19, 1976).

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §715j

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For the purposes of this subchapter and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), migratory birds are those defined as such by the treaty between the United States and Great Britain for the protection of migratory birds concluded August 16, 1916 (39 Stat. 1702), the treaty between the United States and the United Mexican States for the protection of migratory birds and game mammals concluded February 7, 1936 (50 Stat. 1311), the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Birds in Danger of Extinction, and their Environment concluded March 4, 1972, and the Convention between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the Conservation of Migratory Birds and their Environment concluded November 19, 1976.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, referred to in text, is act July 3, 1918, ch. 128, 40 Stat. 755, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 703 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 710 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1978—Pub. L. 95–616 defined migratory birds for purposes of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and to include those defined in the Convention of Mar. 4, 1972, concluded with Government of Japan and the Convention of Nov. 19, 1976, concluded with Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 1966—Pub. L. 89–669 inserted “(39 Stat. 1702)” and defined migratory birds to include those defined in the Treaty of Feb. 7, 1936 (50 Stat. 1311) with the United Mexican States.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 715j

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73