A 150-million-year-old bird fossil discovered in China shows that early birds may have had stronger running abilities than flying. The fossil, found in a remote region of the country, displays tiny wings and features resembling those of dinosaurs. Scientists analyzing the specimen suggest that these early birds were more adapted for terrestrial movement than aerial.
The fossil, which dates back to the Early Cretaceous period, was unearthed during a paleontological expedition in northern China. Researchers noted that the bird’s skeletal structure includes traits that would have made it efficient at running, such as a robust body and short wings. This challenges previous assumptions that early birds were primarily adapted for flight.
This discovery adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the evolution of flight in birds was a gradual process. Earlier studies have shown that some prehistoric birds had features that supported both running and flying, but this fossil provides the clearest indication yet that running was a primary function. The findings could reshape understanding of avian evolution and the transition from ground-based to aerial lifestyles.
