The primary legislation protecting wild birds in the UK is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This basically provides protection to all wild birds and their nests but includes additional special provisions for some rare species. It specifies various exceptions to allow for sport hunting and for the control of certain species which cause conflict with some human interests. The law is quite complex and includes a number of schedules which list various species that are, or are not, covered by various provisions in the Act. For example, provided that they are ringed and have been bred in captivity, birds on Part I of Schedule 3 (including a variety of finches and the barn owl) may be sold alive at all times, and birds on Part II of Schedule 3 (only the woodpigeon and coot) may be sold dead at all times. In view of these complexities, this little booklet is a useful aide memoire. Its use is made easier still by listing UK birds, species by species, with brief notes on the legal protection each one is given. The booklet is fully up to date and includes the provisions of the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 and the rules concerning the operation of Larsen (cage) traps in the prevention of damage by some bird species to livestock or crops.