Archaeopteryx

dinosaurs · fossils · ancient birds

Ancient wing. Its name comes from Greek words meaning 'ancient' and 'feather' or 'wing'. People also call it the 'Urvogel,' German for 'first bird.'

Bird meets dino. Archaeopteryx was a bird-like dinosaur, mixing features of both. It became famous as a link between dinosaurs and the birds we know today.

Long called the oldest bird. For over a hundred years, scientists and books described it as the oldest known bird.

New discoveries. Scientists later found even older bird-like creatures, like Anchiornis, Aurornis, and Baminornis.