Study says bird flu detected in NYC: ‘a very small number of birds were found positive’ by: Matthew Euzarraga Posted: Apr 10, 2024 / 02:22 PM EDT Updated: Apr 12, 2024 / 01:34 PM EDT ...

Some very small bird is hopping and flying rapidly from place to place, flicking its wings constantly. It hovers like a hummingbird over some withered flower. This is no sparrow!

These are very small birds, reaching only about 4 inches in length. These little birds have delightfully strange courtship rituals. The red-capped manakin does the moonwalk to attract a mate.

“Some of these are very small birds,” Kearns said. “Their top speed is about 15 mph, sometimes 20, and they’re working really hard to fly that fast, and they get really hot.

Tiny golden-crowned kinglets are here all year, somehow overwintering successfully. (Photo by Helen Unruh) We have some other very small birds that have to deal with winter too.