The First Report of Eurasian Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus Barbatus) Sex Identification Using CHD1 Gene Markers in Comparison to Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula Eupatria), Kestrel (Falco Tinnunculus) and Ring Necked Parakeet (Psittacula Krameri)

Molecular identification methods based on DNA analysis are essential useful techniques with high sensitivity for sex identification of monomorphic birds. One of the most endangered bird species that has no sexually dimorphism is Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) which its abundance and breeding range have drastically declined in recent years. In this study comparative PCR sexing assays based on amplification of CHD-1 encoding sequence including 6 different primer sets were used in AMI molecular biological lab institute in Iran to identify the unknown sub adult Bearded vulture sex that is kept and protected in FPWC center in Armenia, Yerevan. Some of the assays were also used on samples taken from Alexandrine parakeet (Psittacula eupatria), Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and Ring necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri). Results showed that P2/P8 and P2/NP primer sets are useful for sex identification of Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus).