Their results , along with the small size of other theropods found at the base of paravian lineages , suggest that small size was not an innovation of early birds , but a common trait of early paravians ; small size would have preceded flight and would not have been a special avian autapomorphy as the result of a size squeeze .
Their results , along with the small size of other theropods found at the base of paravian lineages , suggest that small size was not an innovation of early birds , but a common trait of early paravians .