Scientific Name:Confuciusornis Era: Early Cretaceous (about 125 million years ago) Discovery: Yixian Formation (Jehol Biota), Liaoning Province, China This fossil represents Confuciusornis, one of the earliest known birds with a beak but no teeth. It lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 125 million years ago, in what is now northeastern China. Confuciusornis is notable for its preserved feathers and its significance in the evolution of modern birds. Some individuals possessed long tail feathers, possibly used for display. The dark fossil imprint results from the carbonization of organic material, allowing exquisite preservation of plumage