Fossil muddies the origin of birds
New specimen may be a feathered dinosaur — or the earliest avian yet discovered
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/re_Dinobird2_feat.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
EARLY BIRD This new fossil, found in a Middle/Late Jurassic formation in China and named Aurornis xui, may be the earliest bird yet discovered; others argue it is a birdlike dinosaur.
Thierry Hubin/IRSNB