Confuciusornis is a genus of primitive crow-sized birds from the Lower Cretaceous . It was found in the Yixian and Jiufotang Formations of China , dating from 125 to 120 million years ago . Confuciusornis is a genus of primitive crow-sized birds from the Early Cretaceous Yixian and Jiufotang Formations of China , dating from 125 to 120 million years ago .