“How can you get to see the official bird of New York City?”/“Cut someone off.”

New York City does not have an official bird. New York State’s official bird is the eastern bluebird.
 
It’s sometimes said that the official “bird” of New York City is the middle finger. There’s a joke that Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling told in 1990:
 
Q: What’s the best way to see the official bird of New York City?
A: Cut someone off.
 
Pigeons are everywhere in New York City. “Pigeons, official bird of New York City” was posted on Twitter on September 28, 2011.
 
 
Wikipedia: The finger
In Western culture, the finger or the middle finger (as in giving someone the (middle) finger or the bird or flipping someone off,) is an obscene hand gesture. It communicates moderate to extreme contempt, and is roughly equivalent in meaning to “fuck off”, “fuck you”, “shove it up your ass”, “up yours” or “go fuck yourself”. It is performed by showing the back of a hand that has only the middle finger extended upwards, though in some locales the thumb is extended. Extending the finger is considered a symbol of contempt in several cultures, especially in the West. Many cultures use similar gestures to display their disrespect, although others use it to express pointing without intentional disrespect toward other cultures. The gesture is usually used to express contempt but can also be used humorously or playfully.
 
30 March 1990, Asbury Park (NJ) Press, “Comic’s career grew with joke collection” by Shannon Mullen, pg. B4, col. 5:
“How can you get to see the official bird of New York City? Cut someone off.”
(Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling.—ed.)
 
Google News Archive
11 June 1992, The Cavalier Daily (University of Virginia), “Mishmash,” pg. 6, col. 2:
Q: What’s the best way to see the official bird of New York City?
A: Cut someone off.
 
Google Groups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling
Anyone catch the John Rocker bit?
A.K.
10/22/99
John Rocker showing everyone the official bird of New York City on Conan.
Well-timed sketch.
 
Google Groups: alt.fan.tom-servo
Interpeting You Know What
John VanSickle
10/5/01
(“The Finger” is shown.—ed.)
The official bird of New York City!
 
Twitter
Twitter
renee fontes
‏@naylyn
how do you get to see the official bird of new york?? cut off a cabby. haaa 😊
4:05 PM - 7 May 2009
 
Twitter
John Skelson
‏@JohnSkelson
Pigeons, official bird of New York City http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfxaitqC86E&feature=share … via @youtube
4:16 PM - 28 Sep 2011
 
Twitter
Alex Fernie
‏@FernieCommaAlex
The official bird of New York should be a pigeon eating half a discarded bagel.
12:31 PM - 29 Jun 2013
 
Twitter
Max Goldblatt
‏@tothemaxxx
@FernieCommaAlex The official bird of New York should be a half a pigeon being eaten by another pigeon
12:37 PM - 29 Jun 2013
 
NewYork.com
Pigeon Named New York City’s Official Bird
April 1, 2015,
It was announced this morning that the new official bird of New York City will be the pigeon.
April fools!
 
Twitter
nycministorage
‏@nycstorage4u
NYC Trivia: What do you think is the official bird of New York City?
Answer: Eastern Bluebird http://fb.me/7YVqUewzP
8:00 PM - 20 Apr 2016
 
Twitter
minina
‏@mininatechsec
“The official New York City bird is the middle finger.” @StephenAtHome
10:41 PM - 19 Sep 2016
   
The Week
Stephen Colbert congratulates New Yorkers on not being terrorized
September 20, 2016
(...)
“The official New York City bird is the middle finger.” Watch Colbert’s salute to New Yorkers, and his one-fingered salute to Rahami, below.
Peter Weber