The feather samples were compared to a reference library of 620,000 specimen at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago , Illinois , the Smithsonian said . The samples lead Smithsonian Institution to migratory Canadian birds . Birds probably nested in Canada 's Labrador area and migrated to New York . Smithsonian has been conducting bird strike IDs for FAA , military for decades . Species weighs about 3 pounds , while plane is built to handle 4-pound birds .
The samples lead Smithsonian Institution to migratory Canadian birds . Birds probably nested in Canada 's Labrador area and migrated to New York . Smithsonian has been conducting bird strike IDs for FAA , military for decades . Species weighs about 3 pounds , while plane is built to handle 4-pound birds .