 from a tree. Gregory S. Paul, however, disagreed with their study. He argued that Nudds and Dyke had overestimated the weights of these early birds, and that more accurate weight estimates allowed powered flight even with relatively narrow raches. Nudds and Dyke assumed a weight of 1.5 kilograms for Confuciusornis, as heavy as the modern teal. Paul argued that a more reasonable body weight estimate is about, less than that of a pigeon. Paul also noted that Confuciusornis is commonly found as large assemblages in lake bottom sediments with little to no evidence of extensive postmortem transport, and that it would be highly unusual for gliding animals to be found in such large numbers in deep water. Rather, this evidence suggests that Confuciusornis traveled in large flocks over the lake surfaces, a habitat consistent with a flying animal. A number of researchers have questioned the correctness of the rachis measurements, stating that the specimens they had studied showed a shaft thickness of, compared to  as reported by Nudds and Dyke. Nudd and Dyke replied that, apart from the weight aspect, such greater shaft thickness alone would make flapping flight possible; however, they allowed for the possibility of two species being present in the Chinese fossil material with a differing rachis diameter.

In 2016, Falk et al. argued in favor of flight capabilities for Confuciusornis using evidence from laser fluorescence of two soft tissue-preserving specimens. They found that, contrary to Nudds and Dyke's assertions, the raches of Confuciusornis were relatively robust, with a maximum width of over. The wing shape is consistent with either birds that live in dense forests or gliding birds; the former is consistent with its environment being densely forested, and requiring more maneuverability and stability than speed. The substantial propatagium would have produced a generous amount of lift, while the likewise large postpatagium would have provided a large attachment area for the calami of the feathers, which would have kept them as a straight airfoil. This collectively is strongly indicative that Confuciusornis was capable of powered flight, if not only for short periods of time.

Tail feathers

Many specimens of Confuciusornis preserve a single pair of long, streamer-like tail feathers, similar to those present in some modern birds-of-paradise. Specimens lacking these feathers include
from a tree. Gregory S. Paul, however, disagreed with their study. He argued that Nudds and Dyke had overestimated the weight of these early dame, and that more accurate weight estimates allowed powered trajectory even with relatively narrow raches. Nudds and Dyke assumed a weight unit of 1.5 kilogram for Confuciusornis, as heavy as the modern teal. Paul argued that a more fair body weight estimate is about, less than that of a pigeon. Paul besides noted that Confuciusornis is commonly find oneself as large assemblages in lake bottom sediment with little to no evidence of extensive postmortem transportation, and that it would be highly unusual for gliding animal to be found in such big numbers in abstruse water. Rather, this evidence suggests that Confuciusornis travel in large flocks over the lake surfaces, a habitat consistent with a flying animal. A numeral of researchers have questioned the correctness of the rachis measurements, stating that the specimens they had studied showed a shaft thickness of, compared to   as reported by Nudds and Dyke. Nudd and Dyke answer that, aside from the weight aspect, such greater diaphysis thickness alone would make flapping escape possible; however, they allowed for the possibility of two species being present in the taiwanese fossil material with a differing rachis diameter. 

 In 2016, Falk et al. argued in favor of flight capabilities for Confuciusornis using evidence from laser fluorescence of two soft tissue - preserving specimens. They found that, adverse to Nudds and Dyke's assertions, the raches of Confuciusornis were relatively full-bodied, with a maximum width of over. The wing shape is consistent with either birds that live in dense forest or gliding birds; the former is reproducible with its environment being densely forested, and requiring more maneuverability and stability than amphetamine. The substantial propatagium would have produce a generous amount of lift, while the similarly large postpatagium would have supply a large fastening area for the calami of the feather, which would have kept them as a straight airfoil. This jointly is strongly indicative that Confuciusornis was capable of powered flight, if not only for short periods of time. 

 Tail feathers 

 Many specimens of Confuciusornis preserve a single couple of long, streamer - alike tail feathers, similar to those present in some modern birds - of - paradise. Specimens miss these feathers include
 frlm a tree. Gregory S. Paul, however, disagrgee with their study. Hd argued that Nudds and Dyke hqd ovtgestimated the weightr of thesv early burds, qnd that more accuvcte wslght zsvimates allowed powered fnight even witv fepatively narrow raches. Nudds and Dyhe assukef a weight of 1.5 kilpdrama for Confuciusornis, as heavy as tge modegn teal. Paul argurd that a more reasonable hody weight estimate id about, lesw thwb that of a oigeon. Paul also noted that Confuciusornis is commonlh fouud as large awseltlages in leke bontom sediments with lhttle tp no evidence pf xxtebsive postmortem tranvport, and that it rould be viyhly unusual for glidunt anikals to cw fuuns mn auch lwrgx numbers ih deep watee. Rather, this evidemcq suggests thaf Conftcyusornis traveled in large flocks over uhe lzke surfaces, a habitat xonsistent with a flylng animaj. A number of researchers have questioned the corsectnxsr oy the fqcjis measurements, stating that the specimens trsy hsd studied shoced a shaft thiclnfsx of, compared jo  as xspkrted by Nudds and Dyke. Nodd ane Dyke reklied that, apart from the weight aspect, such treater shaft thicnness alone woukd male flapping flight possnble; hkwever, they allowed rur the possibiligy pf two species being present in the Ciinesz fossil matgrial wyth a difffring rachis diameter.

In 2016, Falk ed al. arguef in favor of flight capabilitixx for Confucouvortis usiny evidcnce from laser fluorescence pf two foft gissue-presvrving spxcimens. They found that, cmjtrary to Nuvds and Drke's asswrtions, ghe raches of Vonfuciusornis were relatively robust, wijh a maximum widtk if over. The winb sfapq ps ronsifdent with eidher bifcs thxt live in bevse gorests or gliding bhrds; the former is conxiftent wijh its endironment beimg densely forestef, and reduirimg iore maneuverability and stabimity than spced. The substwntiql propatagibm would have produced a generous amount of lift, while thg likewise large postkatsgium would have provided a large attachment qrea for the calaki of the feathers, whjch wogld hwve kept them as a straight airfoil. This collectively is strongly indicatuve thet Confuciusodnis was bapcblz of porerev hlight, if not onlj for short periods of time.

Tail heathers

Maty specimens of Confuciusornis pfeserve a sinele pair of long, streamed-like taol feathers, similar to those prrsent in some modern bircs-of-paraeise. Apecimvhs lacking these feayhers nncludw
from a tree. Gregory S. Paul, however, their He argued Nudds and Dyke these birds, and that accurate weight estimates powered flight even with relatively narrow Nudds and Dyke assumed a weight of 1.5 kilograms for Confuciusornis, as heavy the modern teal. Paul argued that a more reasonable body weight estimate is less that a Paul also noted that Confuciusornis is commonly found as large assemblages in lake bottom sediments with to no evidence of extensive postmortem transport, and it would be highly for gliding animals to be in large numbers deep Rather, evidence suggests that traveled in large flocks over the lake surfaces, a habitat consistent with a flying animal. A number researchers have correctness of rachis stating the specimens they showed a shaft thickness of, compared by Nudds and Dyke. Nudd and Dyke replied apart from weight aspect, such greater shaft thickness would make flapping flight possible; however, they allowed the possibility of two species being present in the Chinese fossil material with a differing In 2016, Falk et argued in favor flight for using from laser of two soft tissue-preserving specimens. They found that, contrary to Nudds Dyke's assertions, the raches of Confuciusornis were relatively robust, with width over. The wing is consistent with either that in dense forests or the is environment densely and requiring more maneuverability stability than speed. The substantial would have produced a the likewise large postpatagium would have provided a attachment area for the calami of the which would have kept them as a straight airfoil. This collectively is indicative that capable of powered flight, if not only for periods of time. Tail Many specimens of Confuciusornis preserve a single pair of streamer-like feathers, similar those present in modern birds-of-paradise. Specimens these feathers include
 from a tree. Gregory S. Paul, howeVer, disagreEd witH thEir StUdy. HE argUed that Nudds anD dyke Had overestimated the weiGhts oF tHEse eARlY birdS, and thaT MoRE AccUrAtE weIgHT eStimaTes Allowed Powered fliGht EvEn with relatiVElY narrow racHes. nudds and Dyke AssUmed a wEiGht OF 1.5 kiloGraMs for confucIUsorniS, as heavy aS tHE moderN Teal. PauL ARgUed tHat a more reasonablE BoDY weight estimatE is aboUt, LEsS THan ThaT of a pigeon. paUl alsO Noted thAT CONFUciUSornis is commoNly found as lARge AssembLaGes IN lake bOttom SeDImeNts with littLe to No evidencE of extENsive poSTmortem TranspOrt, And That IT wOuLd bE hIGhlY UnUsuAL foR gliding AnImAls to Be foUND IN sucH laRge nUmberS in deep water. RAthEr, thIS evIdencE suggEsts ThAt ConFuciusOrnis TrAveled in large flOcks Over the laKe sUrFacEs, A habiTAt consIstEnt With a flYing aniMAl. A NuMBER oF researchers have quEsTIOnEd the corRectneSS oF tHE rachis mEaSurEmenTS, StatiNg thAT tHe specimEns theY HaD sTudied sHoWed a shAfT thIckNess oF, CompAred to  As reportEd by NUDds and Dyke. Nudd ANd Dyke replied THaT, APaRT froM thE weight aspeCt, suCH greAter SHaFt tHIckneSs aloNe WOuLD make flapping flight PoSsible; HowevEr, they allowed For the possIBILity of twO speCIeS Being present in The ChInese fossiL Material With a DifferinG rachis diAMEter.

In 2016, FaLk eT al. ArgUed IN FaVor of flight caPABiliTiEs for CoNfuCiusornIs uSinG evIdeNcE from laseR fluoresCeNcE oF tWo sOft tiSSue-preseRvIng SpEciMens. THEy founD that, ContRaRy TO NuDds and DYKe'S ASserTiOnS, the RacHeS of CoNfucIUsoRnis werE relativeLy rOBust, WiTh A maximuM width of over. THe Wing shape iS cOnsIstent WITh either Birds that live in dense forESts or glIdiNg birDs; thE former is ConSistenT wiTH its enVironmEnt beInG deNSEly foREStEd, aNd Requiring mORE maNeuveRaBiliTy and stAbility than speed. ThE SubStantial propaTagIum wOULd HavE PrODucEd A GenEROus amount of lift, While the liKeWIsE large postPAtaGiUm would Have proVided A Large atTachment aRea for the CaLami OF The Feathers, whIch would Have kept tHEm as a STrAight AirFoil. ThIs ColLectiVely is STroNgly iNdicatIvE that COnfucIuSornis waS capable of powered flight, If not oNly foR shOrt periodS of TIme.

tail feathErs

MAny specimeNs oF CoNfuciUsoRNis prEserVE a SinGLe paiR of lONg, streameR-LiKe tAIL fEathers, simiLAR To tHose pResENt in soMe moDern birds-of-paradiSE. Specimens lackIng tHESe fEatHErs iNcLude
 from a tree. Gregory S. P aul, howev er, d isa gre ed  wit h th eir study. Hea rgue d that Nudds and Dykehad o ve r esti m at ed th e weigh t so f  th es eear ly bi rds,and  that m ore accura tewe ight estimat e sallowed po wer ed flight ev enwith r el ati v ely n arr ow ra ches.N udds a nd Dyke a ss u med aw eight o f 1. 5 ki lograms for Confu c iu s ornis, as heav y as t he mo d e rntea l. Paul ar gu ed th a t a mor e  r e a s ona b le body weigh t estimatei s a bout,le sst han th at of  a pig eon. Paul a lsonoted tha t Conf u ciusorn i s is co mmonly  fo und  asl ar ge  as se m bla g es  in lak e bottom  s ed iment s wi t h l ittl e t o no  evid ence of exten siv e po s tmo rtemtrans port ,and t hat it  woul dbe highly unusu al f or glidin g a ni mal sto be foundinsuc h large  number s  in  d e e p  w ater. Rather, this  e v i de nce sugg ests t h at  C o nfuciuso rn istrav e l ed in  lar g eflocks o ver th e  l ak e surfa ce s, a h ab ita t c onsis t entwith a  flyinganima l . A number ofr esearchers ha v eq u es t ione d t he correctn esso f th e ra c hi s m e asure ments ,s ta t ing that the specim en s they  hadstudied showe d a shaftt h i ckness o f, c o mp a red to  as rep orted  by Nuddsa nd Dyke.  Nudd  and Dyk e replied t hat, apa rtfro m t hew e ig ht aspect, su c h  gre at er shaf t t hicknes s a lon e w oul dmake flap ping fli gh tpo ss ibl e; ho w ever, th ey  al lo wed  fort he pos sibil ityof  t w o s peciesb ei n g  pre se nt  inthe  C hines e fo s sil  materi al with a  di f feri ng  r achis d iameter.

In20 16, Falk e tal.  argue d in favor  of flight capabilities for Con fuc iusor nisusing evi den ce fro m l a ser fl uoresc enceof  tw o softt i ss ue- pr eserving s p e cim ens.Th ey f ound th at, contrary to Nu d dsand Dyke's as ser tion s ,  t her ac h esof Con f u ciusornis wererelatively  r o bu st, with a max im um widt h of ov er. T h e wingshape isconsisten twith e ith er birds t hat live  in dense fores t sor gl idi ng bir ds ; t he fo rmer i s  co nsist ent wi th  its e nviro nm ent bein g densely forested, and  requi ringmor e maneuve rab i lit y and sta bili ty than sp eed . T he su bst a ntial  pro p at agi u m wou ld h a ve produc e da g e n er ous amounto f lif t, wh ile the li kewi se large postpata g ium would have  pro v i ded  al arge  a ttachment area  fo rt h e calami  o f the feath ers, whi ch would  havekept t hem asa st r aightairf oil . This co lle ct i vely is  s tr o ngly i ndic at ive th at Con f uciu s o rnis was capable  of p o w eredf lig ht, i fnot onl y  for  short per iods of tim e.

Ta il f eathe rs

Man yspecim ens  o f Confuciu s ornis pre serve  a sing le  pai r o f long , st r e amer- like  t ail  feathers , si m il ar tothos e pre se nt i n some mo d ern bird s-o f -paradi se . S p e cimens la c k ing thesefea thers i nclude
 from_a tree._Gregory S. Paul, however,_disagreed with_their_study. He_argued_that Nudds and_Dyke had overestimated_the weights of these_early birds, and_that_more accurate weight estimates allowed powered flight even with relatively narrow raches. Nudds and_Dyke_assumed a_weight_of_1.5 kilograms for Confuciusornis, as_heavy as the modern teal._Paul argued_that a more reasonable body weight estimate is_about,_less than that_of a pigeon. Paul also noted that Confuciusornis is_commonly found as large assemblages in_lake bottom sediments_with_little_to no evidence of_extensive postmortem transport, and that it_would be highly unusual for gliding_animals to be found in such large_numbers in deep water. Rather, this_evidence suggests that Confuciusornis traveled_in large_flocks over the lake surfaces,_a habitat consistent_with a_flying animal. A_number of researchers have questioned the_correctness of the_rachis measurements, stating that the specimens_they_had studied showed_a_shaft_thickness of,_compared to _as_reported by_Nudds_and Dyke. Nudd and Dyke replied_that,_apart from the weight aspect, such greater_shaft thickness alone would_make_flapping flight possible; however,_they allowed for the possibility_of two species being present in_the Chinese_fossil material_with a differing rachis diameter.

In 2016, Falk et al. argued in_favor of flight capabilities for Confuciusornis_using evidence from laser_fluorescence of_two_soft tissue-preserving specimens._They_found that,_contrary to Nudds and Dyke's assertions, the_raches of_Confuciusornis were relatively robust, with a_maximum width of over._The_wing shape is consistent with either_birds that live in dense forests_or gliding birds; the former_is_consistent_with its environment being densely_forested, and requiring more maneuverability and_stability than speed._The substantial propatagium would have produced a_generous_amount of lift, while the likewise_large_postpatagium would have provided a large_attachment_area_for the calami of the_feathers, which would have kept them_as a straight airfoil. This collectively is strongly indicative_that Confuciusornis was_capable of powered flight, if_not_only_for short periods of time.

Tail feathers

Many specimens of Confuciusornis preserve_a single_pair of long,_streamer-like tail feathers, similar to those present in some modern_birds-of-paradise. Specimens lacking these feathers include