<P> The basal bird Archaeopteryx , from the Jurassic , is well known as one of the first `` missing links '' to be found in support of evolution in the late 19th century . Though it is not considered a direct ancestor of modern birds , it gives a fair representation of how flight evolved and how the very first bird might have looked . It may be predated by Protoavis texensis , though the fragmentary nature of this fossil leaves it open to considerable doubt whether this was a bird ancestor . The skeleton of all early bird candidates is basically that of a small theropod dinosaur with long , clawed hands , though the exquisite preservation of the Solnhofen Plattenkalk shows Archaeopteryx was covered in feathers and had wings . While Archaeopteryx and its relatives may not have been very good fliers , they would at least have been competent gliders , setting the stage for the evolution of life on the wing . </P>
<P> The basal bird Archaeopteryx , from the Jurassic , is well known as one of the first `` missing links '' to be found in support of evolution in the late 19th century . Though it is not considered a direct ancestor of modern birds , it gives a fair representation of how flight evolved and how the very first bird might have looked . It may be predated by Protoavis texensis , though the fragmentary nature of this fossil leaves it open to considerable doubt whether this was a bird ancestor . The skeleton of all early bird candidates is basically that of a small theropod dinosaur with long , clawed hands , though the exquisite preservation of the Solnhofen Plattenkalk shows Archaeopteryx was covered in feathers and had wings . While Archaeopteryx and its relatives may not have been very good fliers , they would at least have been competent gliders , setting the stage for the evolution of life on the wing . </P>
when did the first birds appear in the fossil record
when did the first birds appear in the fossil record
late 19th century
late 19th century