# Mysterious Predator That Butchered Ancient Birds Is Finally Unmasked

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-14 06:07 UTC · Category: Science

## Executive Summary
A 120-million-year-old fossil mystery solved: the predator that butchered ancient birds was a gliding, feathered dinosaur cousin of Velociraptor.

## Intelligence Brief
Paleontologists have identified a new dinosaur species from a rare 120-million-year-old fossil, revealing a creature with four wings—two arms and two legs—covered in feathers. The fossilized remains, discovered in China, show evidence of predatory behavior, including butchered bird bones, suggesting this dinosaur hunted by gliding from trees. Its anatomy blends traits of raptors and gliding mammals, offering clues about the ecological niche of small theropod dinosaurs during the Early Cretaceous period.


Coverage emphasizes the fossil’s uniqueness, with outlets like *ScienceAlert* and *Reuters* highlighting its potential to resolve a long-standing paleontological puzzle: the identity of the predator responsible for ancient bird butchery. *CNN* and *VOI.id* focus on the dinosaur’s gliding capabilities, while *vice.com* and *SciTechDaily* compare its appearance to a hybrid of a flying squirrel and a raptor. The discovery is framed as a breakthrough in understanding dinosaur hunting strategies and avian evolution. Further details may emerge on the fossil’s exact location, additional anatomical features, and comparisons to other known theropods.


Researchers are likely to explore whether this species had a broader diet or if its gliding ability was common among its relatives. Public interest may also shift toward visual reconstructions and potential documentaries on the find.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| VOI.id | New Dinosaur Similar to Velociraptor Discovered, Allegedly Slipped from a Tree and Attacked a Bird | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiQ0FVX3lxTE5HQmhOeUROLUVFNElmN0lPVlJSQXhqSGlSS05Id24wNXJXanBISkkyUUlFTzMtZ0drM3g0c0FUQWZoVVk?oc=5) |
| Pakistan Today | Rare 120-Million-Year-Old Fossil Shows Four-Winged Dino | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxPdDZBdXNCdmpqeF9YelFnaDFld1FydkF0QVU5ek16ck9oSDBNNzdscHVKYk54UXJrNFBGaC1BeEtYcTYyQVBtWFl3ZmVMWHB1OTd2OWRSYW1QNVdnWDBacU9SSXVhTVRMUW1JdFFiS1NSUTNGSWZnamRZQ2tfXzRzRjlabGpBeFhBc0gyWmN2aElFRWNBZ3Q1dFRWUkhpYWp6c1lGY1lTdm1WajRFVXUtUnZ4MEo1NFZjX05OZzVaWkVldw?oc=5) |
| CNN | Rare fossil belonged to a gliding creature that hunted birds | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggFBVV95cUxQVW9uRnVrR1BXMDFSYVVoRk5NeGdsb3ZFWHdCVWFUSFpLX1oyWXBjMWdzVEIwT24yUERSMXZYNkNKVmRZRHRWRW9vY05lRjllYi04V3MzY1ZocFdPYzU3VGVGWGt3WUNBM2lNendQaE1wYzh4VmJCRjRZUHhta25JLWtB?oc=5) |
| Reuters | Chinese Velociraptor cousin had a taste for birds | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxPSDU2QWhOLTVnbXM5cmVhZzQxMUVPaDhsSkxwYWhQNGc5cjc2MWZpRUNZdm9xN3NPUjd0ZVJpWW1JakRaNG5QQzFNSDdBcUJEelhkZ2tnVXlBQ2dqZlRBQUNhNHhYLTd1cGQ2bEh3TlREN2dCRG0xY2VyOUw5SzJJdW9JTGNsRVZGZUF5UEpOaEw?oc=5) |
| vice.com | Ever Wondered What a Deadly Flying Squirrel With Velociraptor Claws Would Look Like? Science Has Your Answer. | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1wFBVV95cUxPYTlWWlRJN3Atb3ZUcVVzS2FLQWFBRnZDWTRRLUJWS05WczRkLWd3bnkwc3FaVGNSTkQycnl0eVNjOS1CaXExVTJ2eTJXQnRlQ3M4ZjEweThxMFhqNlJJdmJLdjlqX0hLTFp5X0x1QnFURDRFQW82bHRUMlViSDZhMlFteXlnYTIwREN6aXZOOUotQjN2V28xZHJ3MURlSDB6RnZfWC1FOGd3SXpBQmVNRUEzYnp0cnplTFJkVnM2eHdjZkh1U1dtRDU1QlkxRWJ2UUNRZUFrZw?oc=5) |
| SciTechDaily | New Feathered Dinosaur May Have Solved a 120-Million-Year-Old Fossil Mystery | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxNSFV3d3NiOXpPb0NiQkkwQU9wLXMtWWQweE5fTnkzVzdVeThOLVZzbm9aZEZJZEkyYmNJWU9MeDNPTk96MXdGTXJIanZ6eXREem1IdXpaWjFhNzZyTE5MSDBlVFl2ZUVkRmVhaDRyNGxSdUd0YTBVLVpIY1FJU0lMeFZiRk5uTHE1UmltVnlsNk4tcHVsMzV2S1k2NmMwVnlPQWdITA?oc=5) |
| ScienceAlert | Mysterious Predator That Butchered Ancient Birds Is Finally Unmasked | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxPc2llM2cyT3M5T1FoRkQtVWJLVlI5MXc3Q2t6ZGcyR0J1RTl0QURHS1RnLVZVdUVlRF85eWVFbnA4aTREamRSekdkY0xqRlUzRGlPYUpoaE8xUS1Ia242NDF4QXloNlVLby1xU1JkV2xLX0I3MjhlOWhYbFhWTzV5XzFDdVRGRWV4TXpkRlJGNmhSSTJENnJOWVowYUoyUQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-06-14/mysterious-predator-that-butchered-ancient-birds-is-finally-unmasked*