Three Maltese bird hunters are facing court proceedings for illegal hunting in Sicily, according to Italian media.
Ragusa News said police had found the three men trapping finches by illegal means in order to sell them on the black market.
The trapping took place between Ragusa and Modica.
The police seized 21 metal cages, wooden boxes and wire mesh, nets, electro-acoustic bird callers as well as live birds. The birds were subsequently freed.