Re: Archaeopteryx the Jurassic magpie?

[Patrick Norton <ptnorton@suscom-maine.net>]

Ian Paulsen wrote:

> I think that the magpie would be a good modern day model for Archie 
> behavior wise, any comments?>

Members of the Corvidae in general have been suggested by many people as 
modern analogs for Archie.  This is speculation, of course, apparently based 
mostly on similarities in overall size and wing aspect ratios and the lack 
of evidence of gastroliths in Archie (suggesting it may have been a meat 
eater, like the Corvids).  It probably couldn't fly as well as crows and 
magpies, though, so it's lifestyle had to be somewhat different in that 
respect. If gastroliths are found in some future specimen of Archie, 
however, this might suggest a different diet as well.

PTN