Prehistoric Bird Found To Have Club Wings for Fighting

Researchers have found evidence of clubbed wing in a prehistoric flightless bird. Xenicibis has unusual wing bones which are thick and curved which were believed to be used for fighting.

The bird would have lived about 10000 years ago in Jamaica, and was the size of a chicken.

The researchers at Yale University said they believed the wings were used for fighting as the breastbone was larger than expected and the wings longer, structures that would give greater strength for this use. They believe the birds flailed their wings to cause damage to rivals.

More evidence comes from bones found with damage matching injuries expected from combat.

To find out more:

Original paper: Longrich & Olson (2011). The bizarre wing of the Jamaican flightless ibis xenicibis xymoithecus, Proceedings of the Royal Society.

Articles: Xenicibis: The flightless 'jousting' prehistoric bird from Jamaica discovered, Daily Mail

Extinct bird swung wings like a club, Discovery News

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