Terrence McLean, who lives in Brooklyn, allegedly planned to sell the birds, New York's Daily News reported. He was arraigned this week.

Customs officials said they became suspicious when they discovered grass seed in his luggage, court records said. They found the finches hidden inside plastic hair curlers.

Contests between singing birds are popular in the Guyanese immigrant community, officials said. Birds from their native country are believed to have the best voices.

"Many who attend the singing contests place wagers on the birds," U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Special Agent Richard Gamba said in court documents. "A finch who wins many competitions becomes quite valuable and can sell for in excess of $5,000."

Taking any wild animal into the United States without a license is illegal.