NMNS Avian DNA Barcode Project

Specimens were obtained from naturally deceased individuals and non-lethal sources such as window collisions, banding mortality, and rescue center mortalities. These were donated by a range of contributors, including private individuals, ornithological societies, universities, conservation agencies, wildlife rescue centers and others.

From 2012 to 2013, specimens underwent wet lab procedures at the National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS), Taichung. Muscle tissue was sampled under sterile conditions, and DNA was extracted and sequenced targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, a widely used barcode marker for avian species identification. The dataset comprises 191 records, covering a diverse range of bird species from multiple orders and families, aligned with the 2023 TWBF Checklist of the Birds of Taiwan (Link to checklist: bird.org.tw/sites/default/files/field/file/download/The%202023%20TWBF%20Checklist%20of%20the%20Birds%20of%20Taiwan%2020240624ed.pdf).