CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [3500. - 3516.]

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC 1.
in effect

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3500. Section 3500.

(a) Resident game birds are as follows: (1) Doves of the genus Streptopelia, including, but not limited to, spotted doves, ringed turtledoves, and Eurasian collared-doves. (2) California quail and varieties thereof. (3) Gambel’s or desert quail. (4) Mountain quail and varieties thereof. (5) Sooty or blue grouse and varieties thereof. (6) Ruffed grouse. (7) Sage hens or sage grouse. (8) Hungarian partridges. (9) Red-legged partridges including the chukar and other varieties. (10) Ring-necked pheasants and varieties thereof. (11) Wild turkeys of the order Galliformes. (12) White-tailed ptarmigan. (b) Migratory game birds are as follows: (1) Ducks and geese. (2) Coots and gallinules. (3) Jacksnipe. (4) Western mourning doves. (5) White-winged doves. (6) Band-tailed pigeons. (c) References in this code to “game birds” means both resident game birds and migratory game birds.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3501. Section 3501.

It is unlawful to use any powerboat, motor vehicle, or airplane to drive any game bird toward another person with the intent that the other person shall take the bird.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3503. Section 3503.

It is unlawful to take, possess, or needlessly destroy the nest or eggs of any bird, except as otherwise provided by this code or any regulation made pursuant thereto.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3503.5. Section 3503.5.

It is unlawful to take, possess, or destroy any birds in the orders Falconiformes or Strigiformes (birds-of-prey) or to take, possess, or destroy the nest or eggs of any such bird except as otherwise provided by this code or any regulation adopted pursuant thereto.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3504. Section 3504.

Subject to the provisions of this code permitting the sale of domestically raised game birds, it is unlawful to sell or purchase a game bird or nongame bird.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3508. Section 3508.

It is unlawful to break, train, hold field trials with, or practice dogs on any wild game bird or domesticated game bird during the closed season on that bird except as authorized by the commission.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3511. Section 3511.

(a) (1) Except as provided in this section or Section 2081.7, 2081.13, 2081.15, or 2835, a fully protected bird may not be taken or possessed at any time. No provision of this code or any other law shall be construed to authorize the issuance of a permit or license to take a fully protected bird, and no permit or license previously issued shall have any force or effect for that purpose. However, the department may authorize the taking of a fully protected bird for necessary scientific research, including efforts to recover fully protected, threatened, or endangered species, and may authorize the live capture and relocation of a fully protected bird pursuant to a permit for the protection of livestock. Before authorizing the take of a fully protected bird, the department shall make an effort to notify all affected and interested parties to solicit information and comments on the proposed authorization. The notification shall be published in the California Regulatory Notice Register and be made available to each person who has notified the department, in writing, of that person’s interest in fully protected species and who has provided an email address, if available, or postal address to the department. Affected and interested parties shall have 30 days after notification is published in the California Regulatory Notice Register to provide relevant information and comments on the proposed authorization. (2) As used in this subdivision, “scientific research” does not include an action taken as part of specified mitigation for a project, as defined in Section 21065 of the Public Resources Code. (3) A legally imported fully protected bird may be possessed under a permit issued by the department. (b) The following are fully protected birds: (1) California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus). (2) California Ridgway’s rail (Rallus obsoletus obsoletus). (3) California condor (Gymnogyps californianus). (4) California least tern (Sterna albifrons browni). (5) Golden eagle. (6) Greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida). (7) Light-footed clapper rail (Rallus longirostris levipes). (8) Southern bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus). (9) Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator). (10) White-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus). (11) Yuma clapper rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis).

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3513. Section 3513.

It is unlawful to take or possess any migratory bird as designated in the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 703 et seq.) before January 1, 2025, any additional migratory bird that may be designated in that federal act after that date, or any part of a migratory bird described in this section, except as provided by rules and regulations adopted by the United States Secretary of the Interior under that federal act before January 1, 2025, or subsequent rules or regulations adopted pursuant to that federal act, unless those rules or regulations are inconsistent with this code.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3514. Section 3514.

Exotic nonresident game birds are those birds of the order Galliformes (pheasant, grouse, quail) which are not established as a wild resident population in this State.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3516. Section 3516.

The commission may adopt such regulations as it deems necessary to govern the release, taking, and possession of exotic nonresident game birds. The commission may adopt such regulations as it deems necessary to govern the inspection of resident game birds imported into this State.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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