News Paleontology

Earth’s first waterfowl may have lived in Antarctica 69 million years ago

A well-preserved skull hints that the enigmatic bird is a close relative to ducks and geese

An artist's drawing of Vegavis iaai dishing for fish.

Vegavis iaai dives for fish in the shallow ocean waters off the coast of the Antarctic peninsula, in this artist’s rendition.

Mark Witton

By Carolyn Gramling

An ancient bird that swam in Antarctica’s balmier waters 69 million years ago may be the earliest known waterfowl on Earth, scientists say.

A newly discovered and nearly complete fossilized skull found in rocks on the Antarctic peninsula belonged to Vegavis iaai, an ancient bird previously known only from fossilized body parts and a bit of its voice box.