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Discovery of Jurassic Bird Fossil Reshapes Understanding of Avian Evolution

The 150-million-year-old Baminornis zhenghensis fossil reveals advanced bird traits, pushing back the timeline of bird evolution by millions of years.

An artist's impression of the Baminornis zhenghensis bird, released on Feb. 12, 2025.
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Overview

  • Baminornis zhenghensis, a quail-sized bird fossil discovered in southeastern China, is now considered one of the oldest-known birds, dating back 150 million years to the Jurassic Period.
  • Unlike the previously known Archaeopteryx, Baminornis had a short tail with a pygostyle, a feature crucial for modern bird flight, marking a major evolutionary advancement.
  • The fossil suggests that bird evolution began 172-164 million years ago, significantly earlier than previously believed, and that early birds were more diverse and widespread during the Jurassic.
  • This discovery highlights the independent evolution of bird-like traits across different body regions, with Baminornis showing a mix of modern and dinosaurian anatomical features.
  • The find provides critical insights into early bird diversification and fills a significant gap in the fossil record, reshaping our understanding of the transition from dinosaurs to birds.