Stunning feather discovered in fossilised dinosaur poo is first of its kind

Researchers think the fossilised faeces may have come from a Tyrannosaurus rex. ( Supplied: Andrey Atuchin )

Palaeontologists have discovered an extremely well-preserved feather from an extinct bird in fossilised dinosaur faeces.

The researchers said the fossil could help explain why ancestors of modern birds survived the mass extinction 66 million years ago.

The researchers said the discovery was a "call to action" for scientists to scan other fossilised faeces to look for feathers.

Link copied Share Share article A piece of fossilised dinosaur poo contains one of the best-preserved feathers from the dinosaur age.

A palaeontologist found the feather by chance while looking for fish fossils.

Researchers said the discovery, published today in Current Biology , might provide clues about why today's birds are the only dinosaur group that survived mass extinction.