Cresswell, W., Lind, J., L Quinn, J., Minderman, J., & Philip Whitfield, D. (2007). Ringing or colour‐banding does not increase predation mortality in redshanksTringa totanus. Journal of Avian Biology, 38(3), 309-316.

Roche, E. A., Arnold, T. W., Stucker, J. H., & Cuthbert, F. J. (2010). Colored plastic and metal leg bands do not affect survival of Piping Plover chicks. Journal of Field Ornithology, 81(3), 317-324.

Sharpe, F., Bolton, M., Sheldon, R., & Ratcliffe, N. (2009). Effects of color banding, radio tagging, and repeated handling on the condition and survival of Lapwing chicks and consequences for estimates of breeding productivity. Journal of Field Ornithology, 80(1), 101-110.

Tinbergen, J. M., Tinbergen, J., & Ubels, R. (2014). Is fitness affected by ring colour?. Ardea, 101(2), 153-163.

Rings can injure birds' legs but life expectancy can be longer in birds with rings and even ring colour can affect fitness :)

Cresswell, W., Lind, J., L Quinn, J., Minderman, J., & Philip Whitfield, D. (2007). Ringing or colour‐banding does not increase predation mortality in redshanksTringa totanus. Journal of Avian Biology, 38(3), 309-316.

Roche, E. A., Arnold, T. W., Stucker, J. H., & Cuthbert, F. J. (2010). Colored plastic and metal leg bands do not affect survival of Piping Plover chicks. Journal of Field Ornithology, 81(3), 317-324.

Sharpe, F., Bolton, M., Sheldon, R., & Ratcliffe, N. (2009). Effects of color banding, radio tagging, and repeated handling on the condition and survival of Lapwing chicks and consequences for estimates of breeding productivity. Journal of Field Ornithology, 80(1), 101-110.

Tinbergen, J. M., Tinbergen, J., & Ubels, R. (2014). Is fitness affected by ring colour?. Ardea, 101(2), 153-163.

D'Amico et al 2017. Physiologic parameters and their response to handling stress in a neotropical migratory shorebird during the nonbreeding season. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 53(3):437-446

Harms et al 2016. Blood gas, lactate and hematology effects of venipuncture timing and location after mist-net capture of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), Boat-tailed grackles (Quiscalus major) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 52(2)S54-S64

Constantini, D & Moller, A.P. 2013. A meta-analysis of the effects of geolocator applications on birds. Current Zoology 59(6):697-706

Spotswood et al 2012. How safe is mist netting? evaluating the risk of injury and mortality to birds. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 3(1):29-38

Anybody who has experience in bird banding knows that there is a toll in the bird when it is manipulated. We should do all possible to keep the risk of stress at minimum.

Ectoparasite burdens may be reduced by handling and measuring birds during the standard ringing procedures:

Vas Z, Fuisz TI 2010. Ringing procedure can reduce the burden of feather lice in Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica. Acta ornithologica 45 (2), 203-207

Thanks for the input, folks - gratefully acknowledged!

Christian

Plastic colour rings and the incidence of leg injury in flycatchers (Muscicapidae, Monarchidae)

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.525.8268&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Foot losses of metal banded Snowy Plovers

http://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/65099

This is the other part of the story: before ring, when mist netting. However is the same paper already cited by Oscar Gonzales.

Erica N. Spotswood, Kari Roesch Goodman, Jay Carlisle, Renee L. Cormier, Diana L. Humple, Josee Rousseau, Susan L. Guers, & Gina G. Barton (2011). How safe is mist netting? Evaluating the risk of injury and mortality to birds. Methods in Ecology and Evolutiondoi:10.1111/j.2041-210X.2011.00123.x

There should be plentiful citations/papers (see below) - marking animals always can have potentially drawbacks on survival rate, but I would regard standard ringing on legs in most cases of no or little impact. But also senistivity might differ quite a lot from species to species (if caught and banded; Bullfinch is e.g. a species to be said being vulnerable to handling induced stress)

1. Saraux, Le Bohec, Durant, Viblanc, Gauthier-Clercs, Beaune, Park, Yoccoz, Stenseth & Le Maho. 2011. Reliability of flipper-banded penguins as indicators of climate change. Nature doi:10.1038/nature09630

2. B. Calvo & R.W. Furness. 1992. A review of the use and the effects of marks and devices on birds. Article A review of the use and the effect of marks and devices on birds

And I think there was also e.g. a paper from Spain on wing-tagged Montagues showing lower survival rates (due to higher predation risk).

And as far I remember it, it can be tricky to measure stress hormones in mist-net caught birds since the incident of catching itself levels up (some) hormons - so you have a very short time window to attain blood sample with reliable stress hormon levels (e.g. in behavioral studies).

I recommend Jaime's answer

Best Regards

Site-specific incidence of ring-related injuries in Rufous Fantails Rhipidura rufifrons

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03078698.2018.1505109?journalCode=tram20