A Field Guide to Mesozoic Birds and other Winged Dinosaurs Quotes

“Avians, “(modern) birds”, represent the bird ‘crown group’, descendants of the most recent common ancestor of all birds alive today. This ancestor seems to have existed as early as 130 million years ago, if fragmentary remains such as those classified as Gallornis are indeed avians. All known avians lack teeth, and instead have extensive, often fully-fused beaks. It is likely that teeth were lost completely”
― Matthew P. Martyniuk, A Field Guide to Mesozoic Birds and Other Winged Dinosaurs