In some embodiments, techniques are provided for verifying operability of an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) receiver included in a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which includes receiving ADS-B data representative of ADS-B messages broadcast by traffic within a reception range of the ADS-B receiver during a first period of time, estimating a traffic environment for a service area spanning, at least in part, a first operating area of the first UAV during the first period of time, determining an expected observed traffic of the first UAV during the first period of time based on the estimated traffic environment, and verifying operability of the ADS-B receiver of the first UAV based on a comparison between the expected observed traffic of the first UAV and the traffic associated with the ADS-B data received by the ADS-B receiver of the first UAV.