Xiaotingia, which honors the paleontologist Zheng Xiaoting, represents a genus of anchiornithid theropod dinosaur discovered in deposits from the Middle Jurassic to early Late Jurassic period located in western Liaoning, China. This genus encompasses a single species, Xiaotingia zhengi, and shares morphological similarities with other anchiornithids. It measured approximately 60 cm in length and had an estimated weight of 0.82 kg, classifying it as a small feathered dinosaur that primarily inhabited arboreal environments.

Much like Archaeopteryx, Xiaotingia boasted extended forelimbs. Notably, its femur, measuring 84 mm, exceeded the length of its humerus, which was 71 mm long. This feature suggests that Xiaotingia had the potential to stand on its hind limbs and employ its forelimbs for possible short-distance flight.

Xiaotingia displayed feathers on various parts of its body, encompassing the head, torso, forelimbs, and hind limbs. The feathers on its femur, particularly, were relatively long, spanning 55 mm. Additionally, it possessed extended pennaceous feathers on its tibia and metatarsus. In case it could fly for brief distances, it might have utilized its hind limbs as supplementary wing structures. This dinosaur exhibited fewer than 10 dentary teeth, which closely resembled the tooth morphology of basal avian species.