Prehistoric birds

evolution, adaptation, and origin of birds

derivation of birds from a dinosaur precursor, and the adaptive radiation of bird species

Palaeeudyptes is an extinct genus of large penguins, currently containing four accepted species. They were probably larger than almost all living penguins, with the smaller species being about the size of an emperor penguin, and the largest species, Palaeeudyptes klekowskii, estimated to reach long (measuring tip of beak to tail) and weighed up to .

Presbyornithidae is an extinct group of birds found in North America, South America, East Asia, Australia and possibly North Africa. They had evolved by the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous and became extinct during the Aquitanian age of the Early Miocene. The family contains the oldest known neognath, Teviornis from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia.

species of bird (fossil)

thumb|Bird ichnology|Ichnofossil of a [[moa footprint from the Gisborne District, New Zealand]]

Rhegminornis calobates is an extinct species of turkey from the early Miocene of Florida. It was described by Alexander Wetmore in 1943.