Ornithomimus

Ornithomimus edmontonicus was a graceful, ostrich-like dinosaur that roamed the river plains and forests of Late Cretaceous Alberta around 70-66 million years ago. Standing roughly as tall as a modern ostrich but considerably longer, this theropod had a small head, large eyes, a toothless beak, and remarkably long legs built for speed. Its proportions—long shins, compact feet, and a counterbalancing tail—made it one of the swiftest dinosaurs of its era.

The species was named in 1933 by Canadian paleontologist William Parks based on specimens from the Edmonton Formation (now known as the Horseshoe Canyon Formation) in Alberta. The name Ornithomimus means "bird mimic," a fitting description given its uncanny resemblance to modern ratites like ostriches and emus. O. edmontonicus is one of the best-known ornithomimid species, with multiple specimens providing good insight into its anatomy.

One of the most remarkable discoveries about Ornithomimus came in 2012, when specimens from Alberta revealed preserved feather structures. Adults showed wing-like feathered forelimbs similar to ostriches, while juveniles lacked these elaborate arm feathers—suggesting the wing feathers may have played a role in display or brooding rather than flight or insulation alone.

The diet of Ornithomimus remains debated. Its toothless beak could have been used for plucking plants, catching small animals, or gathering eggs and insects—likely making it an opportunistic omnivore. Some researchers have noted similarities to modern omnivorous birds, suggesting it may have exploited whatever food sources were seasonally available.