Presbyornis

Presbyornis is an extinct genus of long-legged, filter-feeding waterfowl. Its fossil record spans the Late Cretaceous to the Eocene.

Connect

Anseriformes: Anseriformes is the bird order that includes ducks, geese, swans, and their extinct relatives. Presbyornis is commonly placed among early members of this waterfowl order.
Presbyornis pervetus: Presbyornis pervetus is a fossil species of Presbyornis known from the Eocene of North America. It is the best-known species and is represented by abundant fossils.
Avian beak: An avian beak is the toothless, keratin-covered structure forming a bird's jaws. Presbyornis had a broad bill adapted to taking small food from water.
Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event: The Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event occurred about 66 million years ago and eliminated many species, including non-avian dinosaurs. Presbyornis fossils spanning the boundary inform how waterfowl lineages persisted through this extinction.
Paleognathae: Paleognathae is a major bird lineage that includes ostriches, emus, and tinamous. Presbyornis was a waterfowl, not a member of this contrasting major bird lineage.
Presbyornis isoni: Presbyornis isoni is a fossil species named from Paleocene deposits in North America. It extends the genus's record into the Paleocene.
Wading bird: A wading bird is a bird adapted to feeding or moving in shallow water. Its long legs suggest feeding while walking through shallow aquatic habitats.
Avian evolution: Avian evolution is the evolutionary history of birds from theropod dinosaurs to living diversity. The genus provides evidence about early waterfowl within bird diversification.
Avialae: Avialae is the group of theropod dinosaurs that includes living birds and their close extinct relatives. Presbyornis belongs to the much broader evolutionary group of birds.
Green River Formation: The Green River Formation is a group of Eocene lake deposits in the western United States. Its lake sediments preserve many fossils of Presbyornis pervetus.