Fish & Fowl

Fish & Fowl

Although Fossil Lake is most famous for its fossilized fishes, its fossilized bird diversity is also exceptional. Fish-eating, wading, and otherwise aquatic birds are the most common fossils, but the greatest number of distinct species are found in the fossils of small aerial birds.

Pictured is a little bird (Primobucco mcgrewi) from the Coraciidae family, which includes rollers, hoopoes, and wood hoopoes. It appears to be floundering next to two distant relatives of perches (Mioplosus labracoides) and a little snail (Viviparus sp.).

Specimens:  Fish (Mioplosus labracoides), snail (Viviparus sp.), bird (Primobucco mcgrewi), FMNH PA783

Locality:  Fossil Butte Member of Green River Formation

Credit:  Photo courtesy L. Grande