Scientists Uncover First Proof of Ancient Birds Nesting in the Arctic

Swift Summary

• Newly discovered bone fragments in Alaska reveal birds were nesting in the arctic 73 million years ago, pushing previous estimates back by 30 million years.
• fossils found at Prince Creek Formation suggest birds bred and raised chicks during this time despite the challenging Arctic conditions.
• Study was conducted amid harsh winter fieldwork conditions, with researchers hunting for sediment grains smaller than two millimeters to locate fossil fragments.
• over 50 bone fragments were identified as belonging to chicks or embryonic birds based on their sponge-like texture characteristic of rapid growth stages.
• Fossil evidence confirms three groups of birds: extinct toothed species akin to loons and gulls, alongside ancestral species linked to modern birds; notably absent were enantiornithines or “opposite birds.”
• The Prince Creek ecosystem coexisted with large dinosaurs like tyrannosaurs and ceratopsians, some of which may have nested there too.

Image: Illustration showing ancient birds nesting above the Arctic circle by Gabriel Ugueto.