Will the Real First Bird Please Fly Up?

Pity the poor archaeopteryx (pictured, left) which, for nearly 150 years has been presumed to be the earliest known example of a flying bird-like creature. Now, however, recent studies have shown that, while it exhibits bird-like traits, its bones are more dinosaur like -- meaning it is probably more a dinosaur with feathers than a true bird-like creature.

Science is now pinning its hopes on Confuciusornis (pictured, right) which existed about 20 million years after archaeopteryx and exhibits more bird-like traits -- making it a closer relative to modern birds.

So, did dinosaurs evolve into birds? Yes, but about 20 million years later.

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