How did birds evolve from reptiles?

                    It all started some 200 million years ago, when some smaller dinosaurs made their homes among rocks on high cliff sides. By doing this, they were protecting themselves from larger meat-eating dinosaurs that were too big and heavy to climb over loose rocks. It was here that the pterodactyls (meaning ‘wing finger’) were found. They were flying reptiles, and their ability to fly helped them to escape from the clutches of an enemy, and to swoop down to grab food.

                  During this period, many small reptiles were evolving characteristics, which separated them from the reptile group – their feathers. The Archaeopteryx was the most familiar of these early reptilian avian.

Picture credit: google