Cretaceous bird find holds new color clue

First evidence of pigment pods embedded in keratin found in fossil feathers

fossil of Eoconfuciusornis

OLD BIRD  In the feathers of a new specimen of Eoconfuciusornis lies evidence of pigment-containing pods, and the matrix they were embedded in.

Xiaoli Wang

A 130-million-year-old bird holds a clue to ancient color that has never before been shown in a fossil.