 As "Yandangornis" was far more primitive than members of Aves, it is not considered a member of that class using recent definitions.The usage of Aves within the description of "Yandangornis" more closely resembles the current clade Avialae, which is defined as all animals more closely related to modern birds (Aves) than to Troodontids and Dromaeosaurids.Other long-tailed avialans include "Jeholornis" and "Archaeopteryx".