Are birds dinosaurs

Answer 1

There has been research done that indicates that birds have evolved from dinosaurs. and mounting evidence shows that theropod dinosaurs are the ancestors of birds. Evidence includes countless skeletal similarities and evidence of feathers in many fossils. Feathers were thought to originally developed for warmth, and eventually evolved into flight aids.

In face of this many scientists do consider birds to be descended from dinosaurs, if not a branch of them.

Answer:Birds do have many features in common with theropods (bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs) which suggests that they had a common ancestor. We dont know that this common ancestor was a dinosaur though. It may well have been a bird (see related links).

Looking back in time through the theropod fossil record, these dinosaurs appear to be more bird-like the further back in time you look. Raptors are known to have had feathers and were fairly bird-like, but Archaeopteryx was much more bird-like and lived much earlier and may have been an ancestor of the raptors. There is also a controversial fossil called Protoavis that was dated even earlier and was more bird-like still, with hollow bones like modern birds.

So birds may have been around throughout the mesozoic era and even pre-date the dinosaurs. We have little record of them though because their hollow bones decompose very easily so are less likely to leave fossils. We do have some very ancient bird footprints though (see 3rd link).

It may be more accurate to call the theropods Flightless Birds, rather than calling birds dinosaurs.

Answer 2

Not all dinosaurs were birds. However, birds did evolve from theropod dinosaurs. Therefor, birds are considered a group of dinosaurs, the avian dinosaurs.

We don't know for sure that birds evolved from dinosaurs. though evidence is very strong.

AnswerBirds do have many features in common with theropods (bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs) which suggests that they had a common ancestor. It is generally believed that this ancestor was a dinosaur but it may well have been a bird (see related links).

Looking back in time through the theropod fossil record, these dinosaurs appear to be more bird-like the further back in time you look. Raptors are known to have had feathers and were fairly bird-like, but Archaeopteryx was much more bird-like and lived much earlier and may have been an ancestor of the raptors. There is also a controversial fossil called Protoavis that was dated even earlier and was more bird-like still, with hollow bones like modern birds.

So birds may have been around throughout the mesozoic era and even pre-date the dinosaurs. We have little record of them though because their hollow bones decompose very easily so are less likely to leave fossils. We do have some very ancient bird footprints though (see 3rd link).

It may be more accurate to call the theropods flightless birds, rather than calling birds dinosaurs.

Answer 3

Yes, birds are considered descendants of dinosaurs. Modern birds are believed to have evolved from a group of theropod dinosaurs around 150 million years ago. They share several characteristics with their dinosaur ancestors, such as hollow bones and a unique respiratory system.