Concornis

Concornis was about the size of a common starling, with a wingspan of 34 centimeters (13 inches) and a weight of about 70 grams (2.5 ounces).2

It had long legs and a large hallux (back toe), which means it could both perch on branches and walk on the ground, but was not a specialist at either.2

Concornis likely had teeth in its snout instead of a beak, like most other early birds of its group.2

It probably had a long, narrow tail with a single pair of ribbon-like feathers, not a fan of feathers like modern birds.2

A 2018 study found that Concornis could do bounding flight, flapping upward then diving with wings folded, similar to woodpeckers and songbirds today.2

Concornis is the oldest and most complete member of the family Avisauridae, a group of early birds.2

Its fossils were found in an ancient lake environment, so it probably lived like a shorebird, hunting for food along the water's edge.2