bird are dinosaurs . That ’s how the Natural History Museum , London recoil off its exciting new exhibition , birdie : Brilliant & Bizarre . From the very firstTyrannosaurus rexfossil dug up , through to the most singular adaptation of the dinosaurs ’ only extant congener , the exposition displays the remarkable variety of one of Earth ’s most successful animal groups – including a majestic specimen of a candyfloss albatross chick that stopped IFLScience in our running .

You ’ll get to satisfy the “ wonderchicken ” that lived just before the non - bird dinosaurs were wiped out , putting it among the oldest known modern wench . Plus , explore the incredible adaptations of birds using your nozzle , from shitty seabird eggs to the strangely sauna - similar smell of hoopoe eggs , which are “ painted ” by the parents with a bacterium - loaded secernment to keep them levelheaded ( possibly because they do n’t pick their nests like other birds , the swampy pups ) .

Whoever you are , I would make out for folk music to come up away [ from the exhibition ] thinking ‘ I can do that , and help birds ’ .

As well as ascertain the many ways in which bill have evolved to be the secure convulsion for different birds ’ lifestyle , you ’ll see some of the rummy fashion they pass along and keep light . From loony toons bathing with pismire , to mug up cockatoos , you ’ll depart the exposition wondering if extant birds are n’t even uncanny than their extinct dinosaur ancestors .

“ razzing really are the ultimate survivor ! ” suppose Dr Alex Burch , Director of Public Programmes at the Museum , in a statement sent to IFLScience . “ These seemingly familiar puppet who soundtrack Spring forenoon and smack along the pavements carry with them an array of clever adaptations they have developed to assure their stead on Earth . ”

“ There ’s two cardinal thing that I would like the great unwashed to take away from the exhibition , ” Senior Curator of BirdsDr Jo Coopertold IFLScience . “ One is that they find birds more amazing , and the tactile property more machine-accessible to them , but also , I ’d like them to come away feeling like there ’s something that they can do . Whoever you are , I would eff for phratry to fall aside thinking ‘ I can do that , and help oneself fowl ’ . ”

Want to suss out outBirds : Brilliant & Bizarre ? Tickets can be booked onlinenow .