Each state in the United States has symbols that represent their state. For example, there are official state flowers, songs, trees, birds, and more.
Official State and National Birds:
Alabama: Yellowhammer. Adopted in 1927. When the Confederate Veterans in Alabama were organized they took pride in being referred to as the "Yellowhammers."
Alaska: Ptarmigan. Adopted in 1955. All three kinds of ptarmigan are found in Alaska.
Arizona: Cactus Wren. Adopted in 1931. The Cactus Wren is the largest wren in Arizona, measuring 7 to 8 inches in length.
Arkansas: Mockingbird. Adopted in 1929. The mockingbird can imitate the song of many other birds.
California: California Valley Quail. Adopted in 1931. A prized game bird, known for its hardiness and adaptability.
Colorado: Lark Bunting . Adopted in 1931.
Connecticut: American Robin. Adopted in 1943. The name Robin is applied to a number of familiar birds, but in North America it is the migratory thrush.
Delaware: Blue Hen Chicken. Adopted in 1939, the Blue Hen chicken had long been used as a motif in political campaigns and in many publications. Blue Hen Chicken Bird Lover Gift Idea
District of Columbia: Wood Thrush. The Wood Thrush is more often heard than seen.
Florida: Mockingbird. Adopted in 1927. The mockingbird is known as a fierce protector of its nest and environment.
Georgia: Brown Thrasher. Adopted in 1935. Wasn't the official state bird until 1970.
Hawaii: Nene. Designated Hawaii's State Bird in 1957, the Nene has endured a long struggle against extinction.
Idaho: Mountain Bluebird. Adopted in 1931. In poetry, the bluebird is always a symbol of love, happiness, and renewed hope. Bluebird Bird Lover Gift Idea
Illinois: Cardinal. Adopted in 1929. Illinois became the first of seven states to choose the cardinal as its state bird. Cardinal Bird Lover Gift Idea
Indiana: Cardinal. Adopted in 1933. The cardinal was named by early American settlers, after Catholic cardinals who dress in bright red robes. Bird Lover Gift Idea
Iowa: Eastern Goldfinch. Adopted in 1933. Chosen because it is common in Iowa and often stays through the winter. Goldfinch Bird Lover Gift Idea
Kansas: Western Meadowlark. Adopted in 1937 after a vote by school children.
Kentucky: Cardinal. Adopted in 1926. The cardinal is shared by six other states.
Louisiana: Brown Pelican. Adopted in 1966. A symbol of Louisiana since the arrival of early European settlers.
Maine: Chickadee. Adopted in 1927. A common sight in the woods and at backyard bird feeders throughout the state. Chickadee Bird Lover Gift Idea
Maryland: Baltimore Oriole. Adopted in 1947. The male's plumage is black and golden orange not unlike colors in the Calvert shield. Baltimore Oriole Bird Lover Gift Idea
Massachusetts: Black-Capped Chickadee. Adopted in 1941. Also known as the titmouse, tomtit, and the dickybird, and it is one of the most familiar of the North American birds. Bird Lover Gift Idea
Michigan: Robin. Adopted in 1931. "The best known and best loved of all the birds in the State of Michigan."
Minnesota: Common Loon. One of the earth's oldest living bird species. Its name comes from a Norwegian word that means "wild, sad cry." Loon Bird Lover Gift Idea
Nebraska: Western Meadowlark. Adopted in 1929. Chosen because it is typical of the prairies and abundant in all parts of the state.
Nevada: Mountain Bluebird. Adopted in 1967. The Mountain Bluebird lives in the Nevada high country and destroys many harmful insects. Bluebird Bird Lover Gift Idea
New Hampshire: Purple Finch. Adopted in 1957.
New Jersey: Eastern Goldfinch. Adopted in 1935. No information is available as to why the eastern goldfinch was chosen as New Jersey's state bird. Bird Lover Gift Idea
New Mexico: Roadrunner. Adopted in 1949. The legendary Roadrunner is famous for its distinctive appearance, its ability to eat rattlesnakes and its preference for scooting across the American deserts.
New York: Bluebird. Adopted in 1970. Once common throughout the Northeast, the bluebird fell prey to changing land use practices. Bluebird Bird Lover Gift Idea
North Carolina: Cardinal. Adopted in 1943. One of the most common birds in the state's gardens, meadows, and woodlands. Cardinal Bird Lover Gift Idea
North Dakota: Western Meadowlark. Adopted in 1947. One of the most characteristic birds of the North American grasslands.
Ohio: Cardinal. Adopted in 1933. Known for its clear, strong song and brilliant plumage. Bird Lover Gift Idea
Oklahoma: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Adopted in 1951. From its long tail to its famous "sky dance," no other Oklahoma bird is more striking and identifiable.
Oregon: Western Meadowlark. Adopted in 1927. Chosen by Oregon's school children in a poll sponsored by the Oregon Audobon Society.
Pennsylvania: Ruffed Grouse. Adopted in 1931. Settlers relied on this plump, red-brown bird with the feathery legs as part of their food supply. Grouse Bird Lover Gift Idea
Rhode Island: Rhode Island Red. Adopted in 1954. The breed had originated in the town of Little Compton, Rhode Island, in 1854.
South Carolina: Carolina Wren. Adopted in 1939. It is present in all areas in South Carolina from the coast to the highest mountain.
South Dakota: Ring-Necked Pheasant. Adopted in 1943. It was introduced to South Dakota in 1898 and is easily recognized by its colorful plumage
Tennessee: Mockingbird. Adopted in 1933. Selected in an election conducted by the Tennessee Ornithological Society.
Texas: Mockingbird. Adopted in 1927. Legend has it when Texas chose the mockingbird as its state bird, the resolution stated that the bird is "a fighter for the protection of his home, falling, if need be, in its defense, like any true Texan..." Its species name comes from the Greek mimus to mimic, and ployglottos for "many-tongued."
Utah: California Gull. Adopted in 1955. Chosen because it was credited with saving the pioneer's crops from complete destruction in 1848.
Vermont: Hermit Thrush. Adopted in 1941. It is found in all of Vermont's 14 counties.
Virginia: Cardinal. Adopted in 1950. In eighteenth-century England, the cardinal was called "the Virginia nightingale." Bird Lover Gift Idea
Washington: Willow Goldfinch. Adopted in 1951. The goldfinch is a delicate little bird with a yellow body and black wings. Finch Bird Lover Gift Idea
West Virginia: Cardinal. Adopted in 1949. One of the most common birds in the state's gardens, meadows, and woodlands. Bird Lover Gift Idea
Wisconsin: Robin. Adopted in 1949. Wisconsin school children voted to select a state bird. The robin received twice the votes given any other bird.
Wyoming: Western Meadowlark. Adopted in 1927. These song birds are found from Wisconsin to Texas and westward to the Pacific
United States Bald Eagle. 1782. Chosen as the national bird of the United States because it symbolized strength, courage, freedom, and immortality. The term "bald" does not mean that this bird lacks feathers. Instead, it comes from the word piebald, an old word, meaning "marked with white." Eagle Bird Lover Gift Idea
