Early bird was black | Nature

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Access through your institution Buy or subscribe The plumage of the world's first known bird contained at least some black, researchers report. The melanin responsible for black


pigmentation provides structural support as well as colour. The authors suggest that this would have improved the feathers' strength and durability — an advantage during this early


evolutionary stage of dinosaur flight. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Subscribe to this journal Receive


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AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Early bird was black. _Nature_ 482, 135 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/482135c Download citation * Published:


08 February 2012 * Issue Date: 09 February 2012 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/482135c SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get


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