Changchengornis hengdaoziensis

† Changchengornis hengdaoziensis is a confuciusornithiform bird from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning, China. A sparrow-sized avian, it possessed the toothless, horny beak characteristic of Confuciusornis relatives, along with a fan-shaped tail. It likely fed on seeds or small invertebrates in the densely forested lakeside environments of the Jehol Biota. Exquisitely preserved specimens retain feather impressions.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Changchengornis hengdaoziensis was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Cretaceous Early Mesozoic Era

Changchengornis hengdaoziensis lived during the Cretaceous Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 145.0 to 100.5 million years ago.

The Cretaceous saw continued dinosaur evolution with the rise of ornithopods and early ceratopsians. Flowering plants first appeared and began to transform terrestrial ecosystems. Spinosaurus and other large theropods lived during this time.