A groundbreaking discovery in China has revealed that birds existed during the Late Jurassic period, roughly 160 million years ago, evidenced by a remarkable fossil.

This finding indicates that the evolution of birds and dinosaurs did not follow a straightforward trajectory; instead, both groups may have evolved concurrently.

Baminornis zhenghensis is currently recognized as the oldest known bird species, with its holotype fossil unearthed in East China’s Fujian Province. This significant find has been detailed in the scientific journal Nature. The fossil includes well-preserved bones of the pelvis, trunk, forelimbs, and part of the hind limb.

“Baminornis represents a pivotal discovery in paleontology, ranking among the most significant avian fossils found since Archaeopteryx was discovered in the early 1860s,” shared Stephen Brusatte, a paleontologist from the University of Edinburgh, who contributed commentary on the research published in Nature.

“This discovery is revolutionary. It challenges the earlier belief that Archaeopteryx was the sole bird from the Jurassic Period,” stated Zhonghe Zhou, a paleontologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and co-author of the study, in an interview with the Xinhua news agency.

China’s rich array of cultural and historical artifacts is rivaled by its significance as a hotspot for paleontological discoveries, where fossils from dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures of all kinds have been unearthed.

Although Archaeopteryx linked dinosaurs to birds, other ancient birds, such as a “Cretaceous cormorant,” an ancient wader, and the gliding Microraptor, have also been discovered in China.

Baminornis features several key characteristics of birds, with its short tail being a crucial adaptation for flight mechanics.

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“Previously, the earliest evidence of short-tailed birds dated back to the Early Cretaceous,” explained Wang Min, a paleontologist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “Baminornis now holds the record as the oldest discovered short-tailed bird, stretching the timeline of this key avian trait back by nearly 20 million years.”

The evolution of the short tail shifted the bird’s center of gravity forward, enhancing its flying capabilities. This adaptation contrasts with Archaeopteryx, which possessed a long, feathered tail.

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The pelvic and pectoral girdles of Baminornis reinforce its similarity to modern birds; however, its distinctly dinosaurian hands reveal its ancient lineage.

Wang asserts that the existence of two distinct species evolving avian characteristics in a similar timeframe, yet presenting such contrasting physical forms, suggests that millions of years of avian evolution had already transpired before Baminornis roamed the Earth.

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