'Their greatest challenge since they stared down the asteroid': Paleontologist Steve Brusatte on why birds are facing their biggest existential threat since the dino-killing asteroid
Paleontologist Steve Brusatte details the evolutionary journey of birds from theropod dinosaurs to the diverse species alive today, highlighting their survival of the asteroid extinction that wiped out nonavian dinosaurs. In his book, he explores how traits like flight and rapid growth helped birds endure past catastrophes. Now, human-driven environmental changes pose the most significant threat to birds since the Cretaceous extinction.
- ▪Birds evolved from two-legged theropod dinosaurs and are considered a lineage of flying dinosaurs.
- ▪Some bird species survived the end-Cretaceous mass extinction 66 million years ago due to traits like flight and fast growth.
- ▪Brusatte documents extinct giant birds, such as gorilla-sized penguins, elephant birds, and predatory terror birds.
- ▪Modern threats like habitat loss and climate change are endangering bird populations at an accelerating rate.
- ▪Brusatte expresses cautious optimism about birds' resilience in the face of current challenges.
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Animals Birds 'I'm more hopeful that birds can endure than maybe even our own species': Paleontologist Steve Brusatte on why birds are the ultimate survivors In a new book, paleontologist Steve Brusatte tells the wild story of how birds evolved during the Jurassic and took to the skies, surviving the asteroid strike that killed their fellow dinosaurs. By Laura Geggel published 28 April 2026 in Interview When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Some birds survived the end-Cretaceous mass extinction thanks to a variety of features, including their ability to grow quickly and fly.
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