Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§6101 Findings

Title 16 › Chapter 80— NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION › § 6101

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

States that about 500 of the nearly 800 bird species in the United States migrate between countries. Most of those are neotropical migrants that spend winters in Latin America and the Caribbean and breed in Canada and the United States. These birds give important environmental, economic, recreational, and scenic benefits across the Western Hemisphere. Many of these migratory bird populations have fallen and some are at risk of disappearing in the wild. The main cause is loss and damage to their habitats, including pollution and contamination. Because the birds cross many borders, countries along their routes must work together, and current efforts should be better coordinated.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §6101

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Congress finds that—
(1)of the nearly 800 bird species known to occur in the United States, approximately 500 migrate among countries, and the large majority of those species, the neotropical migrants, winter in Latin America and the Caribbean but breed in Canada and the United States;
(2)neotropical migratory bird species provide invaluable environmental, economic, recreational, and aesthetic benefits to the United States, as well as to the Western Hemisphere;
(3)(A)many neotropical migratory bird populations, once considered common, are in decline, and some have declined to the point that their long-term survival in the wild is in jeopardy; and
(B)the primary reason for the decline in the populations of those species is habitat loss and degradation (including pollution and contamination) across the species’ range; and
(4)(A)because neotropical migratory birds range across numerous international borders each year, their conservation requires the commitment and effort of all countries along their migration routes; and
(B)although numerous initiatives exist to conserve migratory birds and their habitat, those initiatives can be significantly strengthened and enhanced by increased coordination.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2006—Par. (1). Pub. L. 109–363 inserted “but breed in Canada and the United States” after “the Caribbean”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

of 2024 Amendment Pub. L. 118–51, § 1, Apr. 24, 2024, 138 Stat. 1005, provided that: “This Act [amending section 6103, 6104, 6106, and 6109 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023’.”

Short Title

of 2006 Amendment Pub. L. 109–363, title III, § 301, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2075, provided that: “This title [amending this section and sections 6102 to 6104 and 6106 to 6109 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 6106 and 6108 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Improvement Act of 2006’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 106–247, § 1, July 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 593, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act’.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 6101

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60