The fossilised brain of a 150 million- year-old bird has given up the secret of whether or not the creature could fly: apparently it could, say experts.

Hi-tech scanning equipment was used to X-ray the brain case of the Jurassic era bird, called Archaeopteryx. It revealed structures similar to those that modern birds use for flight and balance, the study in Nature reports.

This adds significant weight to the popular theory that the birds' wings were used for more than just flapping. Since the discovery of the first Archaeopteryx fossil in 1861, the species has been a source of some contention among the palaeontology community.

The carnivorous bird, which measured a maximum of around 50cm with wings outstretched, had features that were both dinosaur-like and bird-like in nature.

Experts tested the fissile and found that the Archaeopteryx had all of the structures that allow birds to fly. The findings present fairly conclusive evidence that Archaeopteryx was once airborne, according to the lead researchers.

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