The only modern bird to share a feather type similar to Protopteryx is the red bird-of-paradise.

[12][13] The Sichakou Basin is part of the Daxinganling-Taihangshan Tectonomagmatic Belt and moves in a north-northeast direction.

[11] Protopteryx lived in the Jehol Biota in the Cretaceous period, which contains many of the terrestrial and freshwater vertebrate clades.

[8] Protopteryx was adapted for flying and had feathers with features similar to modern birds, as shown by its procoracoid, carina of the sternum, external tuberosity of the humerus, and deltoid crest, which suggest Protopteryx had a modern musculus supercoracoideus and pectoralis.

Protopteryx also shares asymmetric wing flight feathers with flying birds, as well as Archaeopteryx and Confuciusornis.

[8] The tail feathers of Protopteryx lack of barbs and rami close to the body,[8] suggesting a use outside of flight, such as display, thermoregulation, or sensory usage.