For birders all over the world

Did Dinosaurs evolve into Birds?

---

Two of the world's most important natural history treasures have been paired together for the first time. The Natural History Museum's (London, UK) own Archaeopteryx - the earliest known bird fossil, and China's "fuzzy raptor" dinobird fossil are currently being exhibited for the first time in the Museum's new exhibition, Dino-Birds: The Feathered Dinosaurs of China.

Both Archaeopteryx and the "fuzzy raptor" dinobird are considered among the world's most scientifically significant fossils and most valued natural history treasures of their respective countries. Together they solve one of nature's greatest mysteries - how birds evolved from meat-eating dinosaurs.

The 147 million-year-old Archaeopteryx, purchased by The Natural History Museum in 1862, is the Museum's single most valuable specimen and is rarely on public display. Due to its fragility, value and constant demand by visiting scientists from around the world, Archaeopteryx is usually kept in environmentally controlled conditions where it is accessible for research study. Click here to find out how Archeopteryx came to London's Natural History Museum.

"Fuzzy raptor" was unearthed in 2000 by local farmers in Liaoning Province, north-east China and dates between 124-122 million-years-old putting it within the Cretaceous period. Considered an evolutionary "missing link", it has the bony skeleton expected of a predatory dinosaur but is fringed with a coat of feathers.

For more than 140 years scientists argued modern birds were linked to dinosaurs. But where was the proof? Sceptics wanted to see the evidence of feathers. In 2000, local farmers in Liaoning Province, north-east China, unearthed the "missing link". "Fuzzy raptor" had the bony skeleton expected of a predatory dinosaur but was fringed with a coat of feathers. This exciting discovery finally solved one of nature's great mysteries - how birds evolved from meat-eating dinosaurs.

"The fossils distinctly display delicate feather impressions" said renowned dinosaur expert and Associate Keeper of Palaeontology at The Natural History Museum, Dr Angela Milner. "The creatures being discovered in Liaoning Province died very quickly after being covered in volcanic dust. Their bodies have been remarkably well preserved - like the ancient humans in Pompeii."

This is the first time the Dino-Bird fossils have been exhibited in a way that traces the evolutionary origins of birds. From the astonishing discovery of Archaeopteryx in 1861 - the most ancient bird known to science - the exhibition follows the scientific arguments that link birds to their dinosaur cousins, examines the feathered dinosaurs of China, covers the development of fluffy coverings to feathers for flight and compares ancient birds to the modern fliers of today. Click here to read about each of the key discoveries of the last 140 years.

Visitor information:

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see such an impressive collection of scientifically significant Dino-Bird fossils in one exhibition. After experiencing Dino-Birds, it's certain you'll never look at birds in quite the same way.

---

Check out our "Remains of the Moa" feature - click here