The Single Eagle Feather

[Deirachel]

To clarify something briefly mentioned, concerning US Law:

ANY bird of prey feather or body part requires a permit to own. Same for any songbird or any endangered species.

Such permits are not limited to Native Americans, although Native Americans have an easier time of getting said permit. Other routes for the permits include (but not limited to) educational organizations, zoos, museums, wildlife rescue, and falconry. Members of many religions can also apply, if they can document the use of a feather/body part in their religious tradition (which can be difficult in some situations). In any case, all such items must be requested and distributed by the US government to the individual, with the exception of individuals/groups who husband the donor bird in question (i.e. if you find a feather in the wild and you have a permit, you can't just keep it either. You have to turn it in to the Department of Natural Resources, who will distributed it using their priority system.)

For example, if the Scottish Tartan Museum in North Carolina wanted to put up a display of a Cheiftan in historical dress, they could apply to the federal government for the permits and issuance of a pair of real golden eagle feathers.

Realistically, it's less expensive just to buy the fake eagle feathers though.


ETA: Technically, a Native American also must have this permit to possess an eagle feather. Of course, what is legal and what is enforced are two different situations.