New finds are frequently emerging from around the world which point to the growth of feathers and wings on small dinosaurs millions of years ago. The actual benefits of these adaptations is open to debate. Perhaps small dinosaurs needed to glide from tree to tree in the forest, or swoop over rivers to grab fish. They might have evolved flight to evade predators. Many possibilities are under investigation.

One likely answer is that natural selection favoured small dinosaurs like Compsognathus who could run and jump just that bit more powerfully and stay airborne for longer. They developed streamlined feathery flaps, or proto-wings, which gave them the necessary advantage by changing the airflow under their bodies. This change could eventually have led to free flight.

Another possibility is that the dino-birds ran or climbed up trees to escape from predators and needed primitive wings to move up the vertical trunk. Or perhaps once in the trees, they evolved to glide from tree-top to tree-top, like some modern mammals.

A remarkable organism is 60 cm-long feathered dinosaur Archaopteryx, found fossilized in Germany. Only seven specimens have been identifed since the discovery of a single feather in 1860. It closely resembles Compsognathus; it has a short body, a lightweight, pointed skull, elongated limbs and a long tail. Archaeopteryx is generally classified as both a dinosaur and a bird.

The fossils of some interesting new species have recently come to light in Liaoning, China, including Archaeopteryx-like creatures and four-winged versions. Some Composgnathus-type theropod dinosaurs have been found covered in feathers and new discoveries in this area are frequently made.

It is now scientifically indisputable that dinosaurs were the ancestors of modern birds. We can point at sparrows in the back garden and say with some confidence that they are a member of the same great family as Tyrannosaurus Rex or Apatosaurus. It is not correct to say that birds actually are dinosaurs, however. Dinosaurs are still regarded as extinct.