​Birds have been around for millions of years, evolving from ancient dinosaurs into the wide variety of species we see today. But while many birds have come and gone over millennia, some have remained surprisingly unchanged, surviving through ice ages, escaping predators, and changing landscapes. These feathered creatures are often called living fossils, with origins that go back tens of millions of years, and studying them gives us important information about the distant past and the incredible adaptability of nature.​Today’s birds vary widely in size, habitat, and behaviour, but a few ancient species still glide across our skies just as their ancestors did eons ago. From the deep-diving loons in northern lakes to the powerful, flightless ostriches roaming the African plains, these birds have been around far longer than you’d expect and they’re part of the oldest surviving branches of the bird family tree. Here are five of these ancient bird survivors still living today.​