Evolution of the birds...
Ask your average paleontologist who is familiar with the phylogeny of vertebrates and they will probably tell you that yes, birds (avians) are dinosaurs. Using proper terminology, birds are avian dinosaurs; other dinosaurs are non-avian dinosaurs, and (strange as it may sound) birds are technically considered reptiles. Overly technical? Just semantics? Perhaps, but still good science. In fact, the evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of birds being the descendants of a maniraptoran dinosaur, probably something similar (but not identical) to a small dromaeosaur. What is this evidence?
Archaeopteryx lithographica
Archaeopteryx lithographica is the scientific name for a fossil bird from the Jurassic age (approx. 150 Million years old) discovered in lithographic limestone quarries of Bavaria, Germany, in the year 1876.
