Fossil of 69-Million-Year-Old Bird Redefines Evolutionary History

The discovery of Vegavis iaai in Antarctica reveals modern bird traits existed alongside dinosaurs, challenging long-held evolutionary theories.

The fossilized skull of Vegavis iaai, dating back 68-69 million years, is the oldest known modern bird and closely related to ducks and geese.
New evidence confirms that modern birds diversified during the Late Cretaceous period, before the mass extinction event that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs.
The skull displays advanced features, including a toothless beak and brain structures resembling those of present-day birds, supporting its classification as a crown-group bird.
Vegavis iaai was an underwater pursuit hunter with specialized jaw muscles and a pointed beak, traits similar to modern diving birds like loons and grebes.
The Antarctic fossil highlights the Southern Hemisphere's role as a critical refuge and evolutionary hotspot for early birds during significant environmental upheavals.