Grabauornis

Grabauornis belongs to a group of early birds called enantiornitheans, which were the most common birds during the Age of Dinosaurs.1

Its humerus (upper arm bone) was 95% the length of its ulna (forearm bone), which is about average for enantiornitheans and shows it was a capable flyer.12

The fossil of Grabauornis was found in the Yixian Formation, a famous rock layer that has preserved many amazing feathered dinosaurs and early birds.13

Grabauornis had an alula, a small feather on its thumb that helped it fly slowly and land precisely, like the flaps on an airplane wing.12

The name Grabauornis honors Amadeus William Grabau, a famous geologist and paleontologist who worked in China.1

Its wishbone had a well-developed hypocleidium, a part that helped strengthen its chest for powerful wing beats.1