Brazil wildlife laws regulate domestic bird ownership

In Brazil, keeping wild birds as pets is strictly regulated by environmental laws to protect native fauna. Under Law No. 9.605/1998, also known as the Environmental Crimes Law, maintaining wild animals in a domestic environment without proper authorization is considered a crime. This can result in fines and detention periods ranging from six months to one year.

While many wild birds are illegally traded in markets, there are legal pathways for bird ownership. The Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) maintains a list of species that can be legally kept. Exotic species, such as cockatiels and Belgian canaries, do not require specific licenses. For native wild birds, individuals must use the System for Control and Monitoring of Amateur Bird Breeding Activities (SisPass) to manage the legal handling and breeding of passerines.