RE: ? on pedigrees
What kind of dog? What's the registry, AKC or American Field's FDSB or ?
Genetics do play a big part in whether the dog will take to birds or not but there are some things you can try.
For upland birds (phesants, grouse, etc.) Take your dog to a place where he/she can run free or aleast use a check cord (long leash). A game farm would be ideal or open property. Get a bird, pigeon or whatever the farm sells. There are places where you can buy birds. Clip the wing feathers. Let the dog smell the bird. Throw the bird into some patch of grass and lead the dog to it. If the dog ignores it then the dog doesn't have it. If the dog chases it immediately then the dog has the desire and you can train it. (Don't worry about the dog catching the bird, it'll be only one of a dozen; some you'll shoot and some let live)
I've never owned a real waterfowl dog. But my guess the process would be the same. Take the dog to a place where there'swater and ducks. If the dog goes after them then you know the dog has the desire and trainable.