Through the early 2000s , consensus among paleontologists was that dromaeosaurids were most closely related to the troodontids , and together with the troodontids , with deinonychosaurians in turn the sister taxon to avialans , and therefore the closest relatives of avialan birds .
Deinonychosaurians in turn are the sister taxon to avialans , and therefore the closest relatives of avialan birds .