| Summary: | It has been over ten years since we commenced a DNA testing service for bird species. In that time there have been many changes in both the way DNA testing is performed, together with an increase in the variety of tests that are available to bird breeders and avian veterinarians. The primary purpose of this paper is to inform the reader on the types of tests that are now available and what the future of DNA testing holds. Currently there are three main types of DNA tests that are available to bird enthusiasts; DNA sexing, disease testing, and DNA ‘fingerprinting’. I will discuss these three areas and the current research being performed into developing a comprehensive bank of markers for DNA identification of individual birds, which would enabling us to trace pedigrees having for either enforcement or forensic applications.
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