TED-Ed: How did feathers evolve? - Carl Zimmer

Feathers, one of nature's most complex structures, evolved over millions of years. Initially, dinosaurs had simple, wire-like feathers that gradually became more intricate. Fossil evidence shows that many dinosaurs had feathers, supporting the idea that birds are living dinosaurs. Feathers served various functions, such as camouflage and display, long before they enabled flight. The evolution of flight likely began with small feathered dinosaurs using their arms for extra lift, eventually leading to the development of wings.

How did feathers evolve over millions of years according to the text?

What evidence do scientists have that birds are related to dinosaurs?

Describe the appearance of the most distant feathered relatives of birds.

What are some functions that feathers might have served for dinosaurs?

What might have led to the evolution of longer dinosaur arms?