New Year's celebrations in a southern American state were marred when more than 1,000 black birds fell dead from the sky, AP reported.

Wildlife officials are trying to determine what caused the birds' demise over an Arkansas town.

Commission ornithologist Karen Rowe said the birds showed physical trauma, and she speculated that "the flock could have been hit by lightning or high-altitude hail."

The commission said that New Year's Eve revelers shooting off fireworks in the area could have startled the birds from their roost and caused them to die from stress.

Black birds fell dead from the sky in southern American state.