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I came across the following in an article about dove hunting:
...the study recorded the hits and misses of 5,094 shots with size 6 and 7 steel shot and 7 1/2 lead shot, killing a total of 1,146 doves, 1,100 of which were necropsied.
After looking this up it seems necropsy is another way of saying that an autopsy was performed; the body was examined after death.
When should we prefer one to the other?
You'll notice that your quote is about dead birds. That's why the verbal form of "necropsy" was used. An autopsy is performed on human remains; a necropsy, on non-human animal remains. This veterinarian site explains in detail.
