Archaeopteryx sometimes referred to by its German name, "Urvogel", is a genus of avian dinosaurs. Between the 19th century and the early 21st century, Archaeopteryx was generally accepted by palaeontologists and popular reference books as the oldest known bird.Archaeopteryx lived in the Late Jurassic in what is now southern Germany, Similar in size to a Eurasian magpie, with the largest individuals possibly attaining the size of a raven.