Overview

• A landmark study employing full genome-scale data has revolutionized our understanding of bird evolution, identifying four major clades within Neoaves.
• The study provides new insights into the phylogenetic relationships among bird species, challenging previous ideas and revealing new groupings.
• Most modern groups of birds emerged within 5 million years after the mass extinction event 66 million years ago, filling ecological niches left vacant by dinosaurs.
• The research is part of the Bird 10,000 Genomes Project, aiming to map the genomes of all existing bird species to reveal their population history.
• One species, the hoatzin, remains a mystery in the new bird family tree, underscoring the complexity of avian evolution.