A NEW 48 million-year-old species of bird has been discovered in Germany that is a “likely relation to modern hoopoes”, according to experts.
By JOSEPH CAREY
PUBLISHED: 05:02, Wed, Oct 18, 2017 | UPDATED: 05:58, Wed, Oct 18, 2017
Fossils have been discovered of a 48 million-year-old bird
Fossils were discovered of the 48 million-year-old bird that is similar in size to a wren and uses waxy oils to clean its feathers.
The author of the study, Dr Shane O’Reilly, said: “This research shows these long-beaked tiny birds, about the size of a wren, are likely the ancestors of modern hoopoes and wood-hoopoes.
“The Messelirrisoridae birds probably spent most of their lives in trees, rather than foraging on the ground or catching insects in flight.
“The uropygial gland, also called the preen gland, is an important gland in modern birds that produces a waxy oil that is transferred to feathers during preening.