Scientists suggest that bigger brains in bird ancestors led to more flexible skulls, playing a key role in their evolution.

Animation of a theropod dinosaur skull, showing muscle forces. Credit: Alec Wilken, Casey Holiday Modern birds, as well as other animals like snakes and fishes, have skulls with jaws and palates ...

Modern birds, along with certain snakes and fishes, have skulls whose jaws and palates are not firmly fixed in place.

“This is one of the best-preserved fossil bird skulls of any age, from anywhere in the world. We almost had to pinch ourselves when we saw it, knowing that it was from such an important time in ...

D modeling reveals that as bird brains grew larger, it led to changes in jaw muscles and joint mechanics—enabling the ...

A recent study found a nearly complete skull in Antarctica that may belong ... It could be the oldest known modern bird. Its brain structure and long beak resemble those of today’s waterfowl ...

How Big Brains and Flexible Skulls Led to the Evolution of Modern Birds Mar. 17, 2025 — New research shows how physical changes in the skull affected the mechanics of the way birds move and use ...

At first glance the bird’s skull appears similar to many species flying around today, such as the aforementioned toucan. It’s an excellent example of convergent evolution, which can lead to distantly ...

The benefits of ‘wiggly’ skulls Modern birds, as well as other animals like snakes and fishes, have skulls with jaws and palates that aren’t rigid and fixed in place like those in mammals ...