[1] The Shuilingornis holotype specimen, LY2022JZ3002, was discovered in sediments of the Jiufotang Formation ('Lamadong locality') in Jianchang County of Huludao City, Liaoning Province, China.

An egg-shaped pigmented spot is preserved in the abdominal region, indicating some form of soft tissue.

[1] In 2024, Wang et al. described Shuilingornis angelai as a new genus and species of gansuid avialans based on these fossil remains.

Bone histology of the preserved ulna, indicates that the Shuilingornis holotype was a young adult when it died.

[1] In their phylogenetic analyses, Wang et al. (2024) recovered Shuilingornis as a member of the euornithean clade Gansuidae, closely related to Changzuiornis.