Birds of Tennessee

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have announced a plan to reintroduce the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW), a species extirpated from Tennessee in 1994. 

Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival  

Beginning in the early 1990s the recovering population of eastern Sandhill cranes began stopping at the Hiwassee Refuge on their migration route.  As many as 12,000 cranes have been known to overwinter at the confluence of the Tennessee and Hiwassee Rivers. The TWRA is happy to host the Sandhill Crane Festival each year.  Every year you can come and watch and take photographs of these wonderful birds. You can find details on our Sandhill Crane page.

Non-native Birds 

All birds native to North America (including Tennessee) are federally protected by Migratory Bird Treat Act laws. It is illegal to harm, kill, possess, transport, or collect dead birds, nests, or eggs without permits issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Violators are subject to penalties of fines and jail time for violations.

The following list is a list of birds NOT protected by federal laws, however, there are laws about the transport of captive-raised game birds. Contact TWRA or USFWS for details on the transport of captive-raised game birds.

List of non-native, invasive, and domestic birds not federally protected by Migratory Bird Treat Act laws and found in Tennessee.

• House Sparrow
• European Starling
• Rock Pigeon
• Eurasian Collared-Dove
• Muscovy Duck
• Chinese Goose
• Mute Swan
• Ring-necked Pheasant, Chukar, and other non-native game birds, released for hunting purposes.