Two new fossil psittaciform birds from the Lower Eocene 'Mo Clay' (Fur Formation) of Denmark (c. 54 Ma) are described. An unnamed specimen is assigned to the extinct avian family of stem-group parrots, Pseudasturidae (genus and species incertae sedis), while a second (Mopsitta tanta gen. et sp. nov.) is the largest fossil parrot yet known. Both specimens are the first fossil records of these birds from Denmark. Although the phylogenetic position of Mopsitta is unclear (it is classified as family incertae sedis), this form is phylogenetically closer to Recent Pstittacidae than to other known Palaeogene psittaciforms and may, therefore, represent the oldest known crown-group parrot.
Palaeontology. 2008. V. 51(3): 575-582.

Avian remains from the Late Palaeolithic Djuktai Cave (15000 – 740 years B.P.) are represented by more than 700 bird bones. We identified 65 species from 10 modern orders. The most abundant are remains of the Willow Grouse (Lagopus lagopus), and Ptarmigan (L. mutus). The remains of Ducks (Anatidae), Waders (Scolopacidae), and Thrushes (Turdus spp.) are less numerous. Except for a few cases, most avian species identified represent the fauna of open-land habitats, for example Otis tarda. In modern faunas these birds are inhabitants of steppe landscapes which are absent in the Aldan basin now. Thus the presence of these species indicates that there was a steppe near the Cave at the end of the Pleistocene. In addition, some of the Waterfowl bones recovered have cut-marks made by Palaeolithic man.
Oryctos, 2008. V. 7: 213-222.

Representatives of the avian taxon Zygodactylidae are among the most abundant small arboreal birds in the early Palaeogene of the Northern Hemisphere. Still, however, the osteology of these birds, which have recently been shown to be the sister taxon of the Passeriformes, is only incompletely known. Here we describe a new species of Primozygodactylus from the middle Eocene ofMessel in Germany. The holotype specimen of P. eunjooae sp. nov. for the first time allows a de− tailed examination of the distal tarsometatarsus in one of the Messel zygodactylids. It also exhibits exceptionally well−pre− served tail feathers which,most notably, are formed by a long central pair of rectrices.We further report on a new specimen of Primozygodactylus major, which is the largest zygodactylid from Messel. Being one of the few dissociated skeletons of Primozygodactylus, the new specimen shows some previously unknown osteological features of this taxon and allows a more detailed comparison with other zygodactylids.
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 2009. 54 (1): 15–20.