Elsornis

sand bird

• els · Mongolian · sand
• ornis · Greek · bird

The name combines the Mongolian word "els" (sand) with the Greek "ornis" (bird). It most likely refers to the sandy desert deposits of the Gobi where the fossil was found. The type species is Elsornis keni.

Named by

Chiappe et al.

Year named

2006

Period

Late Cretaceous

Found in

Gobi Desert, Mongolia

Elsornis is an enantiornithine, an extinct lineage of early birds. Birds are technically dinosaurs, but it is not a non-avian dinosaur. The etymology, formation and stage details are given from memory and may be imprecise.