66 million years ago, and ever sinceReputable sourceWell documented
Birds: The Dinosaurs That Survived
On the timeline · around 66 million years ago, and ever since · After the Dinosaurs
What happened
One group of small, feathered theropod dinosaurs lived through the mass extinction: the birds. Every bird alive today — from sparrows to ostriches — is a living dinosaur, descended from Cretaceous ancestors.
Why it matters
Dinosaurs never truly went extinct. Their lineage continues in the thousands of species of birds all around us today.
Sources
- Natural History Museum. How dinosaurs evolved into birds · Reputable source
Related timelines
- Evolution of Life on Earth → — The survivors that carried a dinosaur lineage into the present