Baptornis

Baptornis had teeth in its beak, which is rare for birds. Most modern birds have no teeth.1

It was a strong swimmer and diver, but on land it was clumsy. It probably pushed itself along on its belly or did small hops.1

Fossils of young Baptornis have been found in Canada and Alaska, suggesting these birds migrated north to breed in summer, like some penguins do today.1

Baptornis lived about 87 to 80 million years ago, when a shallow sea covered much of central North America.1

One Baptornis fossil was found with tiny round coprolites (fossil poop) inside. The poop contained remains of a small sabre-toothed herring.1

Baptornis was one of the first Mesozoic birds discovered, along with Archaeopteryx. It was named by famous fossil hunter Othniel Charles Marsh in 1877.1

A second, much larger species of Baptornis was once named (Baptornis varneri), but later scientists moved it to a different genus called Brodavis.1