Ancient bird fossil in China reveals elaborate courtship displays from the Cretaceous period

A 121-million-year-old fossil reveals a new prehistoric bird species with tail feathers twice its body length. Scientists believe the exceptionally long, racket-tipped tail feathers of Plumadraco bankoorum were used for courtship displays, not flight, due to their size and structure. This discovery in China suggests elaborate tail feather displays for mating have existed in birds since the Cretaceous period, predating modern avian species.