Hummingbirds are beautiful creatures with bright colors and distinctive wings that flutter very quickly. Although keeping a hummingbird is possible with the right size of structure and food sources, it is illegal to do so in many areas. In the United States, keeping a hummingbird as a pet violates the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This law makes it illegal to possess or capture any migratory bird, including hummingbirds. In addition to the prohibition of holding or capturing a hummingbird, the act also makes it illegal to keep a hummingbird nest, egg or baby. The penalties for breaking this law include steep fines up to $200,000.
