Ancient Bird Fossil Sheds Light on Evolution of Avian Brains

The 80-million-year-old Navaornis hestiae fossil offers unprecedented insights into the cognitive development of birds.

The remarkably preserved Navaornis hestiae fossil was discovered in Brazil and dates back to the Cretaceous Period.
Researchers used advanced CT scanning to digitally reconstruct the bird's brain, revealing its evolutionary significance.
Navaornis sits between the 150-million-year-old Archaeopteryx and modern birds, filling a 70-million-year gap in avian evolution.
The fossil shows that Navaornis had a larger cerebrum than earlier bird-like dinosaurs, indicating advanced cognitive abilities.
Despite its cognitive advancements, Navaornis lacked the complex flight control mechanisms seen in modern birds.