birddinosaurs

The term "birddinosaurs" is an informal and somewhat colloquial way to refer to the group of extinct reptiles known as theropod dinosaurs that are considered the direct ancestors of modern birds. More scientifically, this group is often referred to as avian dinosaurs or, more commonly, birds themselves, given that birds are the sole surviving lineage of theropods. Paleontological discoveries, particularly those from the late 20th and early 21st centuries, have firmly established the evolutionary link between non-avian dinosaurs and birds.

These transitional fossils, such as Archaeopteryx and various feathered dinosaurs from China, exhibit a mosaic of reptilian and avian features. Characteristics like feathers, hollow bones, a wishbone (furcula), and a three-toed foot are found in both late theropods and early birds. While the exact timing and nature of the evolutionary transition are still subjects of research, it is now widely accepted that birds evolved from small, bipedal, meat-eating theropod dinosaurs during the Jurassic period. The development of feathers, initially for insulation or display, is believed to have played a crucial role in the eventual evolution of flight. The study of these "birddinosaurs" continues to shed light on the origins of avian diversity and the broader evolutionary history of life on Earth.