Yangavis is a basal pygostylian genus, belonging to the Confuciusornithidae, that in the Early Cretaceous lived in the area of present China. The type species is Yangavis confucii. At Sihedang, in Liaoning, a fossil avialan skeleton was excavated. In 2018, the type species Yangavis confucii was named and described by and Zhou Zhonghe. The generic name honours the Chinese paleontologist Yang Zhongjian on the occasion of his 121st birthday, connecting his name with a Latin avis, "bird". The specific name honours Confucius, at the same time referring to the Confuciusornithidae.