What the four nations actually allow

Animal welfare is devolved, and since 2023 the four nations have genuinely diverged. This is the same practice compared across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the primary source and a last-checked date against every cell.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026; the oldest cell on this page was last checked against its primary source on 22 August 2026. Every cell carries its own date and source below. Data: /api/law.json.

This is a description of the law, not legal advice. Every row links to the primary source and carries the date it was last checked. Check the source before relying on it — general licences are reissued each January and commencement dates move.

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Bird control

Can feral pigeons be killed legally?

Feral pigeons are wild birds. Killing or taking them is an offence unless done under licence, and each nation issues its own general licence.

England

Licence or conditions apply
In force from
1 January 2026
Instrument
General Licence GL41 (Natural England)

Feral pigeon may be killed or taken under GL41 to preserve public health or public safety, and nests and eggs may be taken, damaged or destroyed. Valid 1 January to 31 December 2026. No registration is required and actions taken do not have to be reported. For feral pigeon the licence permits a target-illuminating device and a sighting device for shooting, including shooting at night. Condition 1, requiring reasonable endeavours to achieve the purpose by alternative lawful methods, applies only to jackdaw in this version; in the licence issued 1 January 2024 and valid to 31 December 2025 it applied to feral pigeon as well. Condition 2 requires a quick and humane kill, which the licence defines as all reasonable precautions to ensure a single, swift action.

GOV.UK · checked 23 August 2026

Wales

Licence or conditions apply
In force from
1 January 2026
Instrument
General Licence 002 (Natural Resources Wales)

Feral pigeon is the only species on GL002, which permits killing or taking the bird and taking or destroying its nests or eggs to preserve public health or public safety or prevent the spread of disease. Valid 1 January to 31 December 2026. Written records are recommended for three years, not required.

Natural Resources Wales · checked 22 August 2026

Scotland

Licence or conditions apply
In force from
1 January 2026
Instrument
General Licence GL03/2026 (NatureScot)

Feral pigeon may be killed or taken, and nests and eggs damaged or destroyed, under general licence GL03/2026 for the preservation of public health and public safety and preventing the spread of disease. Valid 1 January to 31 December 2026.

NatureScot · checked 22 August 2026

Northern Ireland

Licence or conditions apply
In force from
1 January 2026
Instrument
General Licence TPG1 (DAERA)

TPG1 permits an authorised person to kill or take feral pigeon and jackdaw to preserve public health or public safety. Issued under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and valid 1 January to 31 December 2026.

DAERA · checked 22 August 2026

How to read this

Status describes the position today. Anything proposed, consulted on or before a legislature is shown separately as a proposed change, and is never counted as law.

“Not recorded” means not recorded. Where a commencement date or an instrument has not been confirmed against a primary source, the cell says so rather than estimating.

Data: /api/law.json. Corrections with a primary source are welcome — a wrong cell here is worse than a missing one.