Our guide to the bird species on general licences in England
Read our guide to birds that can be controlled in England via the various general licences.
The changes to general licences in the last year resulted in a lot of confusion. To make matters simpler, we thought we would provide a visual reference to bird species on general licences in England that can be culled. Remember that the law is different in Wales.
Mike Swan, Head of Education at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) says: “ This is a very helpful guide to the bird species that we are allowed to control under the new general licences for England, and the reasons for control that we can invoke.”
Jay
Jays can be shot under the following licences.
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
Carrion crow
Carrion crows can be shot under the following licences.
- GL26 (to prevent serious damage to livestock including poultry and reared gamebirds)
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
- GL35 (to preserve public health or public safety)
- GL36 (preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters)
Jackdaw
Jackdaws can be shot under the following licences.
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
- GL35 (to preserve public health or public safety)
- GL36 (preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters)
Magpie
Magpies can be shot under the following licences.
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
- GL35 (to preserve public health or public safety)
- GL36 (preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters)
Rook
Rooks can be shot under the following licences.
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
- GL35 (to preserve public health or public safety)
- GL36 (preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters)
Canada goose
Canada geese can be shot under the following licences.
- GL28 (to preserve public health and public safety during the close season)
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
- GL35 (to preserve public health or public safety)
- GL36 (preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters)
Egyptian goose
Egyptian geese can be shot under the following licences.
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
- GL36 (preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters)
Monk parakeet
Monk parakeets can be shot under the following licences.
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
- GL35 (to preserve public health or public safety)
- GL36 (preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters)
Ring-necked parakeet
The ring-necked parakeet can be shot under the following licences.
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
- GL36 (preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters)
Sacred Ibis
The sacred ibis can be shot under the following licences.
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
Indian house-crow
The Indian house crow can be shot under the following licences.
- GL34 (conserving wild birds, conserving flora and fauna)
Feral pigeon
The feral pigeon can be shot under the following licences.
- GL35 (to preserve public health or public safety)
- GL36 (preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters)
Wood pigeon
The wood pigeon can be shot under the following licences.
- GL36 (preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters)
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What are the different general licences in England?
GL26 general licence
The GL26 general licence is valid in all counties of England and allows farmers and other keepers of vulnerable livestock and by people acting on their behalf to kill or take carrion crows to prevent serious damage to livestock including poultry and reared gamebirds or destroy their nests or to take or destroy their eggs. Users do not need to register to use the licence. Conditions apply. For more information on the GL26 visit the Government website here.
GL34 general licence
The GL34 general licence is valid in all counties of England and allows landowners, occupiers and other authorised persons to kill the listed birds in a quick and humane manner in order to conserve wild birds, flora and fauna and to take, damage or destroy their nests or to take or destroy their eggs. Users do not need to register to use the licence. Conditions apply. For more information on the GL34, visit the Government website here.
GL35 general licence
The GL35 general licence is valid in all counties of England and allows landowners, occupiers and other authorised persons to kill the listed birds in a quick and humane manner in order to preserve public health or public safety and to take, damage or destroy their nests or to take or destroy their eggs. Users do not need to register to use the licence. Conditions apply. For more information on the GL35, visit the Government website here.
GL36 general licence
The GL36 general licence is valid in all counties of England and allows landowners, occupiers and other authorised persons to kill the listed birds in a quick and humane manner in order to prevent serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters and to take, damage or destroy their nests or to take or destroy their eggs. Users do not need to register to use the licence. Conditions apply.
For more information on the GL36, visit the Government website here.
Where can I find further Government information on bird licences?
The information above was correct on the date published but a further check on the Government website here is advisable.