A recently discovered extinct bird from the early Cretaceous Period, approximately 121 million years ago, may have used its extra-long tail feathers to attract mates, according to a study published May 27, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. The fossil was found in Liaoning Province, China.
The bird, which has not yet been formally named, belongs to a group of early birds known as enantiornithines. It had a pair of extremely elongated tail feathers, which the researchers suggest were used for elaborate courtship displays, similar to modern birds like peacocks or birds of paradise.
Lead author Dr. Alejandro Otero of the Museo de La Plata in Argentina stated, 'This discovery provides direct evidence that sexual selection was already shaping bird plumage in the early Cretaceous.' The study was based on a detailed analysis of the fossil's feather morphology and comparison with other early birds.
The fossil was discovered in the Jehol Biota, a famous fossil deposit in Liaoning that has yielded numerous well-preserved feathered dinosaurs and early birds. The researchers used CT scanning to examine the feathers' structure without damaging the fossil.
This finding adds to the growing evidence that complex courtship behaviors evolved early in bird evolution, long before the appearance of modern birds.
