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It's been an important year for discovering how modern birds fit in with their ancient, more fearsome predecessors. Thanks to paleontogical conquests from all around the world, we now know when specific behaviors and defining characteristics emerged in avians.ÌýFrom million-year-old puke to new theories about why birds survived mass extinction, here are some ofÌý2016’s most impressiveÌýdiscoveries.

BeaksÌýCould Have Been Key toÌýDinosaur SurvivalÌýÌý

While some avian ancestors were still boasting teeth, others were already embracing beaks. It turns out that this splitÌýmight have saved them from extinction.ÌýAfter the meteor hit at the end of the Cretaceous, there was little left to eat in the world—except for seeds. An revealed that the timeline for some species ended soon after: Dinosaurs with chompers weren’t equipped for the seed-heavy diets, but those with beaks were. Gradually, they became the only feathered kind to survive. The others were, well, .

Ancient Birds Hacked Up Fish Bones in PelletsÌý

What types of food did toothed prehistoric birds prefer when it wasÌýmealtime? A rare, 120-million-year-old fossil found in China shows that some had a taste for seafood. As paleontologist Min Wang and colleagues reported inÌý, a bundle of fish bones was found with the remains of an unnamed species of Cretaceous bird. The preserved pellet containsÌýthe indigestible parts of the bird’s last meal, making itÌýthe oldest knownÌýexample of theÌýregurgitation behavior that's common among raptors today.

Dinosaurs MightÌýHave Danced Like Modern BirdsÌý

After finding giant scrapesÌýat preserved dinosaur nesting sites in Colorado, researchers believe thatÌýnon-avian theropodsÌýused to shake it like modern-day birds.ÌýTheir scientific take is thatÌýthe creaturesÌý,Ìýleaving deep scratches in the ground with their claws. Though they didn't have feathers or wings to emphasize the effect, the dinosaur's displays were thought to be exuberant, given the damage on the terrain.

Scientists FindÌýMicroscopic Hints of Ancient FeatherÌýColor Ìý

Colors aren’t supposed to stand the test of time, but paleontologists are still finding ways to dig them up.ÌýDrawing from an exquisite 130-million-year-old specimen ofÌýEoconfuciusornis, a team of scientists used microbiological techniques toÌýÌýstill preserved some beta keratin—a protein related to tiny structures called melanosomes that allow colors to be reconstructed. This confirmed that the little blobs were indeed color-carrying bodiesÌýand not bacteria. Moreover, the study showed that even incredibly ancient fossils can preserve remnants of their original proteins, opening up future opportunities for teasingÌýout the colorationÌýsecrets of extinct avians.Ìý

One Prehistoric SeabirdÌýHad anÌýEnormousÌýWingspanÌý

The bird with one of the largest wingspans of all time soared over Antarctica 50 million years ago. It was a pelagornithid—an albatross-like creature with a jagged beak, studded with tooth-like protrusions—that paleontologist Marcos Cenizo and colleagues conclude was . The living bird weighed upwards of 30 kilograms (66 pounds) and had a wingspan stretching 6.4 meters (21 feet!) from tip-to-tip. Compare that to the biggest flying species today: the Wandering Albatross, which has wings that extend to 11 feet. The finding proves what scientists suspectedÌýall along—a prehistoric airspace filledÌýwith colossal avians. The challenge now is piecing togetherÌýhow these heavy creatures stayed aloft.

T. Rex ProbablyÌýDidn't RoarÌý

Forget all yourÌýT. rex night terrors: The earth-shaking roar that supposedly might have been a gentle coo instead. After examining the sound-making abilities of the Ring-necked Dove and other modern birds, experts the soundtrack of Mesozoic-era dinosaurs. They posit that bigger specimens didn’t need to bare their teeth to be heard; they could hoot, grunt, and even emit low-frequency tones through their crests.Ìý

A MyanmarÌýAmber MarketÌýYieldsÌýTwo Crucial FindsÌý

Amber is the new shale when it comes to hiding extraordinary bird relics. This yearÌýa band of paleontologists in Myanmar hit theÌýjackpot twice, finding ancient bird partsÌýmummified in amber. First, they uncovered a pair of fully preserved wings derived fromÌýa 100-million-year-old bird in a jewelry market. Then, at that same market, they came across aÌýfeathered tail that likely came from a coelurosaur, as well as the same era. Both specimens can reveal a wealth of information about avian evolution, including details about the and chick morphology.Ìý