News Paleontology

This dinosaur might have used its feet to snag prey in midair like modern hawks

How well Microraptor flew is debated, but its toe pads are giving clues to how it behaved

An illustration of Microraptor, which looks like a small dark bird with a dinosaur-esque head, swooping on an unsuspecting lizard that's walking along a branch

The fossilized toe pads of the feathered dinosaur Microraptor (one illustrated) suggest that it used its feet to hunt the same way as modern hawks.

Vitor Silva/Stocktrek Images/Getty

By Derek Smith

Modern birds evolved from dinosaurs, but it’s not clear how well birds’ ancient dino ancestors could fly (SN: 10/28/16).