Messelasturidae

Messelasturidae
Temporal range: Eocene Eocene (possible Paleocene representative)[1]
Tynskya eocaena
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Eufalconimorphae
Family: †Messelasturidae
Mayr 2005
Genera

Messelasturidae is an extinct family of birds known from the Eocene of North America and Europe. Their morphology is a mosaic that in some aspects are very similar to modern hawks and falcons, but in others are more similar to parrots. Initially interpreted as stem-owls, more recent studies have suggested a closer relationship to parrots and passerines. Their ecology is enigmatic.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference avifauna was invoked but never defined (see the help page).