9 Dinosaurs With Feathers

Around 230 million years ago dinosaurs roamed the earth, but today all we have left are fossils. The most accepted theory of what caused the extinction of the dinosaurs is the asteroid theory. Dinosaurs with feathers live all over the world today, and they are called birds.

Birds are the closest relative to dinosaurs that are presently alive, and they are a type of reptile. Birds may look different than some of the dinosaurs you see in the movies, but many species of dinosaurs had feathers and resembled the feathered animals we see today.

In this article, you will learn about 9 dinosaurs with feathers. Birds and dinosaurs are closely related, and feathers are a common trait that both animals share.  

1. Ambopteryx

Ambopteryx is a genus of feathered dinosaurs that lived during the Late Jurassic period. Ambopyeryx logibrachium is the only dinosaur in this genus, and they have a similar appearance to the bats of today.

Covered in feathers like a bird,  Ambopteryx is known as the bat-winged dinosaur because of the bat-wings it uses to glide. This species is a smaller dinosaur, growing around 13 in (32cm) long, and only weighing 0.675 lbs (306 grams).

In 2017, in China this species was unearthed from the ground, with it being a nearly complete fossil. The wings of this dinosaur are what make them unique, as only one other species has bat-like wings. The wings are more similar to a flying squirrel in the way they operate. This dinosaur was an omnivore, eating the plants and insects found in its habitat. 

2. Yi Qi Dinosaur 

The Yi is a winged dinosaur that lived during the Callovian and Oxfordian Jurrasic periods around 160 million years ago. Discovered in China, they are most known for their bat-like wings.

Yi Qi is the full name of this dinosaur, and only one fossil is on record of being found. Only growing to the size of a pigeon, the Yi is smaller than many relatives of its time.

Yi dinosaurs are maniraptorans and have a body full of feathers. They only weighed around 0.84 lbs (380 grams). Their wings were like a bat and helped them glide through the trees. 

3. Microraptor

Small and carnivorous, the Microraptor is a dinosaur species that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 125 million years ago. They lived in the region that is now China, and are a type of therapod. Microraptors have traits common amongst other therapods like:

• Running on two legs
• A carnivorous diet
• Feathers covering their body
• Hollow limb bones 
• Long necks and slender bodies.

Microraptrors grew between 1.4 to 2.7 feet long and have feathers on their legs, body, and arms. Flying was not possible for this species, even with the four wings that they had. They used their wings to glide from tree to tree and held their arms out like a dragonfly.

While small Microraptors were fierce predators, and effective in using their sharp claws and teeth on their prey. 

4. Ornithomimus 

As the fastest dinosaurs to ever live, the Ornithomimus is a species that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Found around the globe in areas like Mongolia, and North America, it is estimated that this dinosaur was able to run up to 50 mph (31 kph). They grew to be around 12 feet tall (3.6 meters) and weighed about 370 lbs(167.8 kg). This dinosaur had many bird-like features like its feathers and skeleton structure. 

Fossils of these dinosaurs have been found in the United States and Canada. Ornithomimus is a vital species in showing how closely related dinosaurs are to birds.

They were omnivores, eating plants, seeds, eggs, insects, and small animals. Fossils found of the Ornithomimus have shown them to have legs suited for quick movements, and a long tail to help stabilize them. Its speed was helpful in surviving and escaping the fiercest of predators. 

5. Conchoraptor 

One of the smaller members in the Oviraptoridae family was the Conchoraptor, only growing to around 3.3 to 6.6 feet tall (1 to 2 meters). This species had no teeth but had a beak similar to a bird, or turtle. Their bite force was extremely powerful, and they used it to feed on different types of food.

This species lived around 66 to 70 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period. Conchoraptors had feathers, and some of their fossil remains left traces of them.

Only weighing around 20 lbs (9 kg), this dinosaur was relatively smaller than most. This species reproduces by laying eggs similar to other Oviraptoridae dinosaurs. The hollow bones and skull shape of the Conchoraptor made it likely this species had an extraordinary hearing.  

6. Zhenyuanlong 

Living during the late Cretaceous period around 125 million years ago, the Zhenyuanlong is a feathered dinosaur species that roamed the planet. This dinosaur was bird-like with large wings and a tail.

Standing around 5.4 feet tall (1.6 meters), and weighing 44 lbs (19.9 kg), they could not fly since their wings were not strong enough to support their weight. 

Zhenyounlong dinosaurs were terrestrial and reproduced by laying eggs. The skull and skeleton structure shows they are carnivores, similar to other raptor species. Zhenyuanlong dinosaurs are extremely bird-like, and their fossils have helped show a link between birds, and dinosaurs. This species fossil was discovered in China by a farmer, and it was a nearly complete find. 

7. Kulindadromeus

The Kulindadromues is a feathered Therapod dinosaur that lived during the Jurrasic period. This species inhabited areas of Siberia Russia and lived on a diet of plants. It stood around 4.9 feet tall (1.5 meters) and walked on two legs.

Fossils with quills growing from their backs are how these dinosaurs were discovered to have feathers. Covering most of their body, the feathers are present everywhere but on their legs and tails.

Fossils of Kulindadromeus are incomplete. Kulindadromeus is an ancient species and is one of the oldest types of dinosaurs to be discovered with feathers. Fossil fragments are what allow us to depict and study this dinosaur.

8. Velociraptor

Velociraptors lived around 70 million years ago and were deadly hunters of their time. This species is known for being extremely bird-like and has a thick feather covering.

When alive Velociraptors lived in central and eastern Asia. Flying was not possible for these dinosaurs since their arms were too small, and bodies too large. Mating and regulating templates were some possible uses for this dinosaur’s feathers. 

Like modern ostriches, this species ran on two legs and is estimated to run around 25 mph. Velociraptors were carnivores and had deadly curved claws and serrated teeth. As some of the best hunters alive the velociraptor lived during the late Cretaceous period, around 85 million years ago. 

9. Yutryannus 

The Yutryannus means “feathered tyrant”, and is the name of the largest feathered dinosaur to ever be discovered. They lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 130 to 120 million years ago in what is now northeastern China. Only three fossils of the Yutryannus have been found, all within the same area. They stood 25 to 30 feet tall (7.6 to 9.1 meters).

The feathers of the Yutyrannus are like a baby chick and were extremely fluffy. They did not use them to fly, but to keep warm in the cold region they lived in. Like other types of T-rex like dinosaurs, Yutyrannus were carnivores, and one of the most feared predators of their time. This dinosaur hunted in packs like wolves, as the fossil evidence suggests.

Summary of 9 Dinosaurs With Feathers

Here’s a recap of the feathered dinosaurs that roamed Earth millions of years ago:

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