Fossil discoveries of feathered dinosaurs in northeastern China over the past two decades have challenged Archaeopteryx's place in bird evolution.

NPR: New Study Restores Famed Fossil To "Bird" Branch

They join a number of other striking feathered dinosaurs found in ancient lake deposits in China and Germany, for which the presence of feathers is inferred by subtle markings on the fossil bones and wispy markings in the surrounding fossilised sediment.

BBC: Dinosaur feathers 'developed for courtship'

It lived during the middle to late Jurassic era in China's Liaoning province where many early birds and feathered dinosaurs roamed.

NPR: New Study Restores Famed Fossil To "Bird" Branch