For more than a century, scientists have been unsuccessfully hunting for skull fossils for the thunder bird species Genyornis newtoni. About 50,000 years ago, these titans, also known as mihirungs ...

Genyornis went extinct about 45,000 years ago, meaning it shared Earth with anatomically modern humans and even Neanderthals (though the latter were not in Australia).

Geese have a reputation for being aggressive birds, so imagine one that’s more than 6.6 ft tall and weighs about 507 lb. That’s Genyornis newtoni, an Ice Age “thunder bird” from Australia ...

The last remaining mihirung species was the roughly 6.5 feet tall Genyornis newtoni. These stocky birds went extinct about 45,000 years ago–living alongside humans for a bit. News ...

Genyornis was one of many large animals – known as “megafauna” – that once roamed Australia and vanished at around the same time. The work by Miller, Magee and others pinned a clear date of 50,000 ...

"Genyornis newtoni had a tall and mobile upper jaw like that of a parrot but shaped like a goose, a wide gape, strong bite force, and the ability to crush soft plants and fruit on the roof of ...

The fossils revealed a unique face—quite different from any other living or extinct bird but most similar to a duck or a goose. This suggests Genyornis belongs in the Anseriformes: an order of ...

Artist's reconstruction of Genyornis newtoni, the last of the extinct thunderbirds. The environment portrayed was more common in central Australia at the time. Image Credit: Jacob C. Blokland.

Genyornis newtoni was the last of the large, flightless mihirungs ('thunder birds') endemic to Australia. It was a heavily built bird over 2 metres tall, with tiny wings and massive hind legs.

The 'thunder bird' Genyornis newtoni lived alongside humans and went extinct about 45,000 years ago. By Laura Baisas Published Jun 3, 2024 10:31 AM EDT Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 ...