Feathers & Plumage → 🇺🇸 United States

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Feathers & Plumage restricted; documentation or permits may apply. Documentation: Check destination requirements. Enforcement in United States carries fines from USD 300 to USD 10,000 under 19 USC § 1497 (failure to declare); 19 USC § 1592 (fraudulent entry) (ordinary personal cases are handled as civil infringements). Restricted status means compliant carriage is achievable with the right paperwork and quantities; the practical risks are seizure, duty, and delay rather than criminal liability for a good-faith traveller. Arrival checks are carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving United States with feathers & plumage is a separate question: restricted — Feather export from United States depends on the species — most wild-bird feathers are protected under CITES or national bird laws; farmed and craft feathers move freely.

Leaving United States with feathers & plumage

Feathers of CITES-listed birds (all raptors, parrots, birds-of-paradise, and many others) require CITES export documentation from United States, and many countries additionally protect all native wild birds — in the US, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes possessing most wild-bird feathers unlawful regardless of how they were obtained. Farmed poultry, ostrich, and peacock feathers sold as craft materials move freely at personal quantities. Destination biosecurity rules may require declaration of any feather material on arrival.

OFFICIAL SOURCES · VERIFIED 2026-08-22