Great Transitions: The Origin of Birds

The discovery of Archaeopteryx in a quarry in Germany in the early 1860s provided the first clue that birds descended from reptiles. But what kind of reptile? In the last 40 years, scientists have identified many shared features between birds and two-legged carnivorous dinosaurs called theropods.

The film illustrates many of the practices of science, including asking important questions, formulating and testing hypotheses, analyzing and interpreting evidence, and revising explanations as new evidence becomes available.

An interactive version of this film, including pause points and quiz questions, is available at http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/origin-birds-interactive-video

Awards

• 2015 Telly Awards; Bronze
• 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival: Finalist, Educational/Institutional Program