Shiluach HaKan: Difference between revisions

#Only kosher birds are eligible for this mitzvah.  When determining which birds are kosher to eat, we require a clear mesorah, tradition, that our ancestors ate these birds.<Ref>Ramo Y.D. 82:3.  The Torah lists twenty-four species of non-kosher birds; all others are deemed kosher by the Torah.  However, our translation of the Hebrew names for birds is not always accurate.</ref> However, when determining which birds are fit for the mitzvah of Shiluach Hakan, we may rely on the physical signs of kosher birds as delineated by Chazal.<Ref>Responsa Minchas Elazar 3:43</ref>. Therefore, we can distinguish among three categories of birds:  1) Kosher birds which we eat and may use to fulfill the mitzvah, for example certain species of pigeons, doves, geese, and ducks; 2) Birds which exhibit kosher signs <Ref>Briefly, kosher birds that are sitting on a branch place three toes in front and one in back, non-kosher birds place two in front and two in back.  Kosher birds also have a crop and their gizzards can be peeled. In general, birds of prey are not kosher (Chulin 59a). Another sign of kosher birds is that their eggs are not symmetrical; one end is wider than the other</ref>, yet do not have a clear mesorah,  for example sparrows, robins, cardinals, and orioles.  These birds may be used to fulfill the mitzvah, but they are not considered kosher to eat; and 3) Birds which are definitely non-kosher with which we should not perform Shiluach Hakan.  This includes eagles, ravens and other birds of prey.