Aviraptor fossil map
Where fossils of Aviraptor have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 30 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 30 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Prehistoric birds |
|---|---|
| Lived | 33.9–27.3 million years ago (Rupelian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Named by | Mayr and Hurum 2020 |
| Fossil records | 1 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Poland |
| Rock formations | Menilite |
About Aviraptor
Aviraptor is an extinct genus of small accipitrid bird of prey known from the Oligocene of Poland. It contains one species, Aviraptor longicrus. It was named in 2020 by Gerald Mayr and Jørn Hurum based on a single nearly complete specimen. The genus name is derived from the Latin words avis meaning “bird” and raptor meaning “thief” and the species name is derived from the Latin words longus meaning “long” and crus meaning “leg”.
Aviraptor closely resembles modern hawks of the genus Accipiter in overall size and proportions. Like some species of Accipiter, it had long and slender legs. Aviraptor was very small for a bird of prey, with a body size similar to the modern tiny hawk Accipiter superciliosus and little sparrowhawk A. minullus. The bill of Aviraptor was not as sharply hooked as in most modern accipitrids, but is similar in shape to the modern harrier-hawks of the genus Polyboroides.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Aviraptor (revision 1380012812), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q102795565.
