description Presbyornis pervetus Overview
Presbyornis pervetus is an extinct species of waterfowl from the Eocene epoch, with fossils primarily discovered in North America. It exhibits a unique morphology, combining a duck-like bill and body with extremely long, stilt-like legs adapted for wading. Paleontologists have found extensive fossil beds of this species, indicating that they lived in massive colonial nesting sites along the shores of ancient prehistoric lakes.
help Presbyornis pervetus FAQ
Was Presbyornis pervetus a duck or a flamingo?
It was an extinct anseriform, placing it among the broader duck and goose lineage, not among true flamingos. Its long legs, long neck, and webbed feet gave it a flamingo-like silhouette, while its skull and bill were duck-like. [American Museum of Natural History](https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/ology-cards/016-presbyornis-pervetus?view=modal)
How did Presbyornis pervetus feed?
It likely swept its duck-like bill through shallow water to strain out tiny food particles. The American Museum of Natural History describes this as filter-feeding, a behavior also seen in some modern ducks and flamingos. [American Museum of Natural History](https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/ology-cards/016-presbyornis-pervetus?view=modal)
Where and when did Presbyornis pervetus live?
Important fossils come from the Green River Formation in Wyoming and date to the Early Eocene, about 50 million years ago. The bird stood roughly 1 meter, or 3 feet, tall. [American Museum of Natural History](https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/ology-cards/016-presbyornis-pervetus?view=modal)
Did Presbyornis pervetus nest in colonies?
Fossil evidence suggests that it nested in large colonies along the edges of Eocene lakes. That social pattern resembles modern colonial waterbirds more than solitary nesting, even though Presbyornis was related to ducks. [American Museum of Natural History](https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/ology-cards/016-presbyornis-pervetus?view=modal)
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