Fossil bird Liaoxiornis delicates

Age: Mesozoic (150 to 125m years old)

Fossil site: Yixian formation, Lingyuan, Liaoning, China

Description: The bird is first known from 1990 but was fully described in 1999 and is thought by some to be the smallest bird in the Mesozoic.

Liaxiornis was named from a hatchling.

Soon after a completely articulated bird skeleton was discovered, and named Lingyuanomis parvus, as it was thought to be a new fossilised bird.

Soon after it was realised that both the hatchling and the articulated skeleton were the same creature.

As it had been named Liaxiornis first, this name took precedence.

These fossils are rare, especially with such good articulation. In some museum specimens feathers are also evident.

This is a wonderful and unusual fossil indeed.

Birds are rare in the fossil record and are becoming more difficult to obtain.

This is a good investment opportunity and an amazing talking point when installed in the home.

Fossil: 21cm x 16cm
Frame: 44.5cm x 39cm
Weight: 3kg