Oldest direct relatives of birds found

Two bird fossils from 130 million years ago found in China change what we know about how birds evolved.

Though older bird fossils have been found, those species died out, the newly found fossils are direct ancestors to the birds we see today.

Vera Domingues, a senior editor for the Nature Communications journal described the new birds.

"They are small birds, about 10cm... the feathers in the tails are shaped in fin-like shape, traits we know flight control in modern birds," she said.

Domingues added it was the first time feathers had been found in this particular group of birds.

"The fossils show nearly complete plumage highlighting traits of birds we see today...its adding to the complexity of feather evolution," she added.