SEX IDENTIFICATION IN BIRDS OF PREY BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Real-time ultrasonography was used to detect the oviductal structures in 33 birds of prey of seven different species. The oviducts were visu alized in unanesthetized birds with an ultrasonographic scanning probe placed into the cloaca. The left oviduct appeared as an elongated hyp oechoic structure with sharply demarcated echogenic borders and an inc onsistently detectable luminal echo. The morphologic identification an d regular topologic localization of the vaginal portion of the avian o viduct was confirmed with correlative dissection of the reproductive t racts. Ultrasonography is atraumatic and accurate and is a valuable pr ocedure for noninvasive gonadal sex diagnosis in monomorphic species o f raptors.