DNA barcoding a unique avifauna: an important tool for evolution, systematics and conservation

Background DNA barcodingutilises a standardised region of the cytochrome c oxidaseI (COI) gene to identify specimens to the species level. It has proven to be an effective tool for identification of avian samples. The unique island avifauna of New Zealandis taxonomically and evolutionarily distinct. We analysed COI sequence data in order to determine if DNA barcodingcould accurately identify New Zealandbirds.