Read this first. Regulations change without notice and avian influenza zones can change with little warning. This page is guidance, not authorisation. Confirm every requirement with CFIA, APHIS, USFWS and ECCC before you travel — contact numbers are at the bottom of this page. Do not book a flight or drive to a border on the strength of this page alone.
If your pet bird is of Canadian origin, Buffalo and Detroit are genuinely on APHIS’s own list of valid land-border crossings. But that answer flips the moment your bird is CITES-listed, because the same crossings are expressly excluded for CITES cases. There is no single “port of entry” list — there are three, and which one applies to you depends on your bird, not on which road you’d rather drive.
In this guide
- Why There Is No Single Answer: Three Separate Port Lists
- If Your Bird Is Canadian-Origin (And Not CITES-Listed): Buffalo And Detroit Work
- The Other List: Special Ports Open To A Pet Bird From Anywhere
- The Exception That Changes The Whole Answer: CITES-Listed Birds
- How Do You Find Out If Your Bird Is CITES-Listed?
- The Cross-References Don’t Line Up — Read This Before You Plan A Route
- There Is A Documented Way To Ask For A Different Port
- Designated Doesn’t Mean Staffed — Confirm Before You Go
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Guides In This Series
- Who To Call Before You Travel
- What We Can And Cannot Help With
Why There Is No Single Answer: Three Separate Port Lists
Under 9 CFR 93.105(b), APHIS splits pet birds into two groups for port purposes. Pet birds arriving from most of the world may be inspected — and therefore may only enter — at the special ports listed in 9 CFR 93.102(a). But the regulation carves out a second group: “Pet birds of Canadian origin and those birds meeting the provisions of 93.101(c)(2) shall be subject to veterinary inspection at any of the ports of entry listed in 93.102 and 93.203.”
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That second group — Canadian-origin pet birds, and US-origin pet birds returning home under 9 CFR 93.101(c)(2) — gets the wider list, and 93.203 is where the land border ports show up.
That’s the animal-health side of the question, run by APHIS. A third, entirely separate system governs CITES-listed wildlife, run by the US Fish and Wildlife Service under the wildlife rules in Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations — part 14 for ports, part 15 for the Wild Bird Conservation Act, and part 23 for CITES. A bird can clear the APHIS veterinary check at a land port and still be legally barred from crossing there if it’s CITES-listed, because the wildlife-port rules exclude CITES cases from the land border list altogether. We cover that exception below — it’s the one that changes everything.
If Your Bird Is Canadian-Origin (And Not CITES-Listed): Buffalo And Detroit Work
9 CFR 93.203(b), headed “Canadian border ports,” designates the following land border crossings as having the inspection facilities needed for entry from Canada:
| State | Designated ports |
|---|---|
| Idaho | Eastport |
| Maine | Houlton, Jackman |
| Michigan | Detroit, Port Huron, Sault Ste. Marie |
| Minnesota | Baudette |
| Montana | Opheim, Raymond, Sweetgrass |
| New York | Alexandria Bay, Buffalo, Champlain |
| North Dakota | Dunseith, Pembina, Portal |
| Vermont | Derby Line, Highgate Springs |
| Washington | Oroville, Sumas |
Read together with 93.105(b) above, Buffalo and Detroit are both valid options for a Canadian-origin pet bird — the same crossings a Toronto-area owner would already be driving toward. 93.203(a) separately names Los Angeles, Miami and Newburgh, New York as air and ocean quarantine stations, and 93.203(e) allows the Administrator to designate other ports in special cases.
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“Designated” means the port has the necessary inspection facilities on file with APHIS — it is not a promise that a veterinary inspector is on duty at the moment you arrive, or that no advance notice is required. Worth checking: current staffing, hours and any advance-notice requirement for pet bird inspection at your intended port — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask USDA APHIS Veterinary Services (aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel) before you rely on it.
The Other List: Special Ports Open To A Pet Bird From Anywhere
For pet birds that don’t fall into the Canadian-origin or returning-US-bird category, 9 CFR 93.102(a) restricts entry to a short list of special ports, and 93.102(d) adds a longer list of limited ports:
| 93.102(a) special ports | 93.102(d) limited ports |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles and San Ysidro, CA Miami, FL New York, NY Baudette, MN Hidalgo, TX |
Anchorage, Fairbanks, San Diego, Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, St. Petersburg–Clearwater, Tampa, Atlanta, Honolulu, Chicago, New Orleans, Baltimore, Portland (ME), Minneapolis, Great Falls, Covington (KY), Portland (OR), San Juan, Galveston, Houston, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma |
This is the list that applies if your bird doesn’t qualify as Canadian-origin under 93.101(c)(1) — for example, a bird you’re bringing back into the US from somewhere other than Canada or Mexico, outside the 93.101(c)(2) route. If that’s your situation, our Canada–US border walkthrough covers the paperwork side in full.
The Exception That Changes The Whole Answer: CITES-Listed Birds
Even where a land crossing appears on the APHIS lists above, it may not be usable for a CITES-listed bird. 50 CFR 14.16(a) lists northern Customs ports for the import and export of wildlife of Canadian or US origin — including Buffalo-Niagara Falls and Champlain, New York; Detroit, Port Huron and Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan; Derby Line and Highgate Springs, Vermont; Cleveland, Ohio; and Calais, Houlton and Jackman, Maine, among others — but the section opens with a hard exclusion: “Except for wildlife requiring a permit pursuant to part 16, 17, 18, 21, or 23 of this subchapter B.”
Part 23 is CITES. A CITES-listed bird is written out of the land-border wildlife route by that opening clause.
Instead, 50 CFR 14.12 designates seventeen ports for the import and export of wildlife generally, and every one is a major airport or seaport:
| 50 CFR 14.12 designated wildlife ports |
|---|
| Anchorage, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle |
Not one of them is a Canadian land border crossing. So the practical result is: a non-CITES, Canadian-origin pet bird can drive across at Buffalo or Detroit. A CITES-listed bird, even one of Canadian origin, needs the CITES side of its paperwork validated at one of the airports or seaports above — the land crossing simply isn’t available for that part of the process, whatever the APHIS veterinary lists say.
How Do You Find Out If Your Bird Is CITES-Listed?
There’s no shortcut and no safe generalisation here — CITES status is determined species by species, and some of the most commonly kept parrots sit on different sides of the line. The reliable way to check is the CITES species checklist, searched by your bird’s scientific name rather than its common name, since the tool only recognises exact spelling.
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A listed species will show its appendix as a coloured circle (blue for Appendix I, green for II, orange for III); a search that returns no match means the species isn’t CITES-protected. Worth checking: your specific bird’s species and CITES status before relying on any port list — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask Environment and Climate Change Canada (1-855-869-8670 or cites@ec.gc.ca) before you rely on it. Our Canada–US border guide goes through what each appendix requires once you know your bird’s status.
The Cross-References Don’t Line Up — Read This Before You Plan A Route
Two parts of the regulation point to sections that don’t say what they’re cited for saying, and it’s worth knowing this rather than being confused by it later. 9 CFR 93.101(c)(1) tells a Canadian-origin pet bird owner they may import “at any port of entry designated in 93.103 or 93.203” — but 93.103 is actually about import permits and quarantine reservation fees, not port designations; the section actually headed “Ports designated for the importation of birds” is 93.102.
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Separately, 50 CFR 14.17 says a personally owned pet bird may be imported “at any port designated under, and in accordance with, 9 CFR part 92” — but part 92 today covers disease-risk region classification, not port designations.
Neither of these gaps changes the substance of 93.105(b) or 93.203(b) above, but they do mean you shouldn’t rely on a single section number in isolation. Worth checking: your intended port and which regulatory route applies to your specific bird, in writing — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask USDA APHIS Veterinary Services before you rely on it. before you drive anywhere.
There Is A Documented Way To Ask For A Different Port
The sections above set out where the rules say a bird may enter. They do not say that is the end of the conversation. The US Fish and Wildlife Service prices a permit called a Designated Port Exception under 50 CFR part 14, and it appears in the agency’s own user-fee table at 50 CFR 13.11(d)(4) at US$100, with a US$50 fee for a later amendment.
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An Import/Export Licence under the same part is also US$100.
Applications for a designated port exception do not go to the same place as the rest of your paperwork. 50 CFR 13.11(b)(2) directs them to the Special Agent in Charge of the Service region where you live, and applications are made on the Federal Fish and Wildlife License/Permit Application, Form 3-200, or as the Service otherwise directs.
Be clear about what this does and does not tell you. The existence of a priced, named permit proves the mechanism is real — it is not a favour you talk someone into at the booth. It does not tell you that such an exception is granted for a pet bird at a land crossing, how long a decision takes, or what the Service weighs in deciding. We have not been able to source any of that, and you should not plan a route on the assumption it will be approved. Ask before you commit, and note the fee is payable when you apply and is not refunded once the application has been processed.
Designated Doesn’t Mean Staffed — Confirm Before You Go
Every list in this article describes which ports are designated as having inspection facilities. None of the source regulations state opening hours, staffing levels, or how much advance notice a crossing needs for a pet bird inspection, and we haven’t guessed at any of that. Worth checking: hours of operation and advance-notice requirements for pet bird inspection at your chosen port — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask USDA APHIS Veterinary Services before you rely on it. Confirming this in writing is worth the extra step; arriving at a designated port with no inspector available doesn’t help anyone, least of all your bird.
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If you’re still working out whether your move needs a permit at all, or what “moving abroad with a bird” actually involves end to end, our complete Canadian relocation guide is the place to start, and if you’re bringing a bird into Canada rather than out of it, see our CFIA import rules explainer.
Bird Sitting Toronto doesn’t file permits, act as a customs broker, or advise on immigration — this article is information only, drawn from the regulations themselves. What we do is board birds, and if your CITES paperwork or a re-export permit is taking weeks to clear while you sort out which port to use, your bird can stay with us in Mississauga for that stretch rather than sitting in a half-packed house. Get a boarding quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Really Drive My Bird Across At Buffalo Or Detroit?
If your bird is a Canadian-origin pet bird and is not CITES-listed, yes — both are designated ports under 9 CFR 93.203(b), and 93.105(b) confirms that Canadian-origin pet birds may be inspected at any port listed in 93.102 or 93.203. If your bird is CITES-listed, the land-border wildlife rules exclude it, and you’d need an airport or seaport designated under 50 CFR 14.12 instead.
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What Does “Canadian-Origin” Mean For This Purpose?
The regulations use the term without defining it in the sections we’ve reviewed here. Worth checking: what documentation APHIS accepts to establish a pet bird’s Canadian origin — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask USDA APHIS Veterinary Services before you rely on it.
My Bird Isn’t CITES-Listed — Do I Still Need To Check Anything Before Crossing?
Yes. Being on a designated port list doesn’t tell you the hours the port operates or whether a veterinary inspector will be available when you arrive, since the regulations don’t state that. Confirm those details with APHIS in writing before you travel.
What If My Bird Is CITES-Listed — Can I Still Use Buffalo Or Detroit For The APHIS Part And Fly The CITES Part Separately?
That’s a scenario worth confirming directly with the agencies involved rather than assuming. Worth checking: whether a CITES-listed bird’s animal-health inspection and its CITES/wildlife clearance can occur at different ports, or must occur together — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask Environment and Climate Change Canada before you rely on it.
Does This Article Cover Canadian Ports For Entering Canada?
No — this article covers US ports of entry under 9 CFR and 50 CFR. For the Canadian side, see our CFIA import rules explainer.
Is Baudette, Minnesota On Both Lists?
Yes. Baudette appears in 9 CFR 93.102(a) as one of the special ports open to a pet bird from anywhere, and separately in 93.203(b) as a Canadian border port. Both routes name it.
Where Do I Find The Full Text Of These Regulations Myself?
The eCFR (ecfr.gov) publishes the current text of both 9 CFR Part 93 and 50 CFR Part 14 in full, and it’s worth reading the exact section before you travel rather than relying on any summary, including this one.
Related Guides In This Series
- Long-Term Bird Boarding While You Relocate: 30, 60 and 90+ Days
- Importing a Pet Bird to Canada: The Complete CFIA Guide (2026)
- Moving Abroad and You Can’t Take Your Bird: Board, Rehome, or Wait
- Taking Your Bird from Canada to the United States: Driving vs Flying
- Does Your Bird Need a US Import Permit, Health Certificate or Quarantine? (From Canada, Usually None of Them)
- If Your Bird Is Refused Entry to Canada: What the Law Actually Requires
Who To Call Before You Travel
Confirm every requirement below with the agency itself. These are the people who can actually authorise your bird’s movement — we cannot.
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Every number below was checked against the agency’s own website on 27 July 2026. Government phone numbers and web pages still change without notice. If one does not connect, find the agency through its own official site rather than trusting what is printed here.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) — import and export of live birds, health certificates, permits: 1-800-442-2342 from Canada and the US, or 1-613-773-2342 local and international, 8 am to 7 pm EST Monday to Friday except holidays. CFIA names services related to travelling with pets as something its area offices handle — for the GTA that is the Mississauga animal health office, 289-247-4100, 8 am to 4 pm
· inspection.canada.ca - Environment and Climate Change Canada — CITES permitting — export and import permits for CITES-listed species, and what documents exist for repeat crossings:
1-855-869-8670
· cites@ec.gc.ca - Canada Border Services Agency — what happens at the border itself, declarations and inspection fees: 1-800-461-9999, Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm local time. Press 0 to reach an agent; CBSA’s published service standard is to answer within 20 minutes
- USDA APHIS — the US pet-travel hub, with separate paths for import, export and interstate movement, and the list of which birds count as pets at all:
aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel - US Fish & Wildlife Service — CITES and Wild Bird Conservation Act permits, applied for through the ePermits portal at fws.gov/permits. The agency contact centre is 1-800-344-9453
· info@fws.gov
What We Can And Cannot Help With
We cannot help with paperwork. Bird Sitting Toronto is a bird boarding and care business. We are not a customs broker, an immigration consultant, a veterinary practice or a legal adviser. We do not file permits, complete applications or deal with any agency on your behalf, and we cannot guarantee any outcome at any border. Everything on this page is information only.
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There are two things we can do. If your bird cannot travel with you — because the paperwork is still in progress, the airline will not carry it, or the timing simply does not work — we can board your bird in the GTA for as long as you need, including by the month. And if it becomes clear the bird genuinely cannot come with you, we can help you rehome it to a good home rather than leaving you to sort that out alone.
We publish this guide because our boarding clients ask us about it constantly, and because the answer is genuinely hard to assemble from the primary sources.
