The Dinosaur/Bird Connection
How (and when) did dinosaurs evolve into birds? What were the first feathered dinosaurs? And how did paleontologists manage to piece together the dinosaur/bird puzzle?
Dino-Birds - The Small, Feathered Dinosaurs
In the Mesozoic Era, there wasn't just one "missing link" that connected dinosaurs and birds, but dozens of them: small, feathered theropods that showed a tantalizing mixture of dinosaur and bird features. Here's what we know about these "dino-birds," as they're sometimes called.
In the Mesozoic Era, there wasn't just one "missing link" that connected dinosaurs and birds, but dozens of them: small, feathered theropods that showed a tantalizing mixture of dinosaur and bird features. Here's what we know about these "dino-birds," as they're sometimes called.
The Origins of Flight: How Feathered Dinosaurs Learned to Fly
There are two theories about how feathered dinosaurs started to fly, which can be loosely classified as "bottom up" and "top down." Here's a look at the evidence for and against each, and the current state of thinking among paleontologists.
There are two theories about how feathered dinosaurs started to fly, which can be loosely classified as "bottom up" and "top down." Here's a look at the evidence for and against each, and the current state of thinking among paleontologists.
Sinosauropteryx: The First Feathered Dinosaur
A famous fossil in China produced the first indisputable evidence of feathered dinosaurs. Here's how Sinosauropteryx was found, and what it implies for the evolution of birds from dinosaurs.
A famous fossil in China produced the first indisputable evidence of feathered dinosaurs. Here's how Sinosauropteryx was found, and what it implies for the evolution of birds from dinosaurs.
Dinos and Birds
A good overview of dinosaur/bird theory, from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
A good overview of dinosaur/bird theory, from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Confuciusornis Says...
An article about the first beaked bird, from the Journal of Dinosaur Paleontology.
An article about the first beaked bird, from the Journal of Dinosaur Paleontology.
What Can Small Dinos Tell Us About Birds?
An interesting development about small dinosaurs and their relationship to birds.
An interesting development about small dinosaurs and their relationship to birds.
A Four-Winged Dinosaur
The discovery of a microraptor with four wings shakes up theories of bird evolution.
The discovery of a microraptor with four wings shakes up theories of bird evolution.