A video series on amnh.tv delves into the topic of dinosaurs, which arose some 230 million years ago and thrived until large dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago. 

This pair of European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) was photographed in Ariège, France. 

Pierre Dalous/Wikimedia

Birds living today are dinosaurs and often have brilliantly colored plumage.

Did extinct dinosaurs also sport vibrant hues? Learn more from Mark A. Norell, chair of the Division of Paleontology, in this video.

For more about the link between birds and dinosaurs, explore this Science Topic.