Timeline of birds

Bird family tree

Prologue: Birds all around us

Birds are dinosaurs: some dinosaurs become small, light, fast, and energetic

Birds take off: the evolution of feathers, wings, and eggs

Birds soar over (other) dinosaurs: the evolution of flight, a new digestive system, and a new home in the trees

Birds survive, then thrive: the evolution of big brains and keen senses, and the establishment of the modern bird family tree

Birds diversify: the evolution of new life styles, bodies, and behaviors

Birds return to earth: Ostriches, penguins, and other birds give up flight

Extraordinary extinct birds: terror birds, demon ducks, supersize soarers, dodos, and more

Marvelous modern birds: Intelligence, cognition, birdsong, and how birds are still evolving today

Epilogue: Birds brace for the future.