An in-depth analysis of the breastbone (sternum) of bird ancestors reveals its importance in the origin and evolution of flight in dinosaurs as they evolved into birds.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Lowi-Merri, T., Benson, R. B. J., Claramunt, S. & Evans, D. C. The relationship between sternum variation and mode of locomotion in birds. BMC Biol. 19, 1–23 (2021). This morphometric analysis reveals correlations between bird sternum anatomy and different flight abilities.
Lowi-Merri, T. M. et al. Reconstructing locomotor ecology of extinct avialans: a case study of Ichthyornis comparing sternum morphology and skeletal proportions. Proc. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 290, 20222020 (2023). This study uses the relationships uncovered in ref. 1 to reconstruct locomotor capabilities in a fossil bird.
Yu, Y., Zhang, C. & Xu, X. Deep time diversity and the early radiations of birds. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 118, e2019865118 (2021). This broad analysis reveals shifts in evolutionary rates of forelimb anatomy through the evolution of birds.
Pei, R. et al. Potential for powered flight neared by most close avialan relatives, but few crossed its thresholds. Curr. Biol. 30, 4033–4046 (2020). This evolutionary analysis of pennaraptoran dinosaurs outline which species were likely to have been capable of flight given their forelimb anatomy.
Macaulay, S. et al. Decoupling body shape and mass distribution in birds and their dinosaurian ancestors. Nat. Commun. 14, 1575 (2023). This morphological analysis demonstrates how the centre of mass evolves during the evolution of avian flight.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Lowi-Merri, T. M. et al. Enlargement of sternum traits facilitated the evolution of powered flight in birds. Nat. Ecol. Evol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02795-4 (2025).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bird sternum evolution facilitated the origins of powered flight. Nat Ecol Evol 9, 1560–1561 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02817-1
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02817-1
