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The discovery of Tsidiiyazhi abini, an ancient species of mousebird, is a new source of evidence.

But certain tell-tale characteristics—such as its fourth toe, which it could turn around forward or backward to help it climb or grasp—convinced the team that it was an ancient mousebird.

Its mousebird descendants—about the size of a sparrow and marked by their soft, grayish or brownish hairlike feathers—still dwell in trees in sub-Saharan Africa today.

“This little fossil mousebird signals that those groups must have been there—we just need to find them.”

“Hear that? Those are turacos. And there’s a wood hoopoe. And there’s a gray mousebird; do you see that long tail?”