Early Bird

For over a century, Archaeopteryx has held the title of the “first bird,” a feathered fossil linking dinosaurs to their modern descendants.

But that distinction may now be in doubt, after paleontologists in China recently unearthed a 149-million-year-old fossil that pushes back the timeline of early avian evolution.

In their new study, the research team suggested that birds had already begun to diversify by the end of the Jurassic period.

Discovered in Fujian Province, the fossil belongs to a newly named species, Baminornis zhenghensis, and shows features placing it firmly in the avian lineage.

Unlike Archaeopteryx, which retained many reptilian traits – including a long, bony tail – this new fossil sports a pygostyle, a compound bone at the tail’s end seen in modern birds.

“Previously, the oldest record of short-tailed birds is from the Early Cretaceous,” said lead author Wang Min in a press release. “Baminornis zhenghensis is the sole Jurassic and the oldest short-tailed bird yet discovered, pushing back the appearance of this derived bird feature by nearly 20 million years.”

The fossil showed a mix of primitive and advanced traits, including a bird-like shoulder and pelvic structure but a hand more akin to that of non-avian dinosaurs. These peculiar features underscore how early birds evolved gradually, blending traits from their dinosaur ancestors before refining the sleek, flight-ready forms seen today.

The discovery comes amid an ongoing debate over Archaeopteryx’s status as a true bird. Some researchers posit it belongs to a separate group of feathered dinosaurs, raising the question of whether any unambiguous Jurassic birds exist, Cosmos Magazine noted.

“If we take a step back and reconsider the phylogenetic uncertainty of Archaeopteryx, we do not doubt that Baminornis zhenghensis is the true Jurassic bird,” co-author Zhou Zhonghe added.

A second fossil from the site, though incomplete, hints at another early bird relative. A single preserved bone suggests ties to Ornithuromorpha, a group that would later dominate the Cretaceous period.

However, researchers are holding off on naming a new species until more evidence emerges.