List of U.S. state birds explained

Below is a list of U.S. state birds as designated by each state's, district's or territory's government.

The selection of state birds began with Kentucky adopting the northern cardinal in 1926. It continued when the legislatures for Alabama, Florida, Maine, Missouri, Oregon, Texas and Wyoming selected their state birds after a campaign was started by the General Federation of Women's Clubs to name official state birds in the 1920s.^{[1] [2]} The last state to choose its bird was Arizona in 1973.

Pennsylvania never chose an official state bird, but did choose the ruffed grouse as the state game bird. Alaska, California, and South Dakota permit hunting of their state birds. Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee have designated an additional "state game bird" for the purpose of hunting. The northern cardinal is the state bird of seven states, followed by the western meadowlark as the state bird of six states.

The District of Columbia designated a district bird in 1938. Of the five inhabited territories of the United States, American Samoa and Puerto Rico are the only ones without territorial birds.

State birds

State, district, or territory	Bird		Picture	Year
Alabama	Yellowhammer (northern flicker)	Colaptes auratus		1927^[3]
Alaska		Lagopus lagopus		1955^[4]
American Samoa	None (See List of birds of American Samoa)	—	—	—
Arizona		Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus		1931^[5]
Arkansas		Mimus polyglottos		1929^[6]
California		Callipepla californica		1931^[7]
Colorado		Calamospiza melanocorys		1931^[8]
Connecticut		Turdus migratorius		1943^[9]
Delaware		Gallus gallus		1939^[10]
District of Columbia		Hylocichla mustelina		1938^[11]
Florida		Mimus polyglottos		1927^[12]
Georgia		Toxostoma rufum		1928^[13]
Guam	Guam rail (ko'ko)	Gallirallus owstoni		2000^[14]
Hawaii	Hawaiian goose (nēnē)	Branta sandvicensis		1957^[15]
Idaho		Sialia currucoides		1931^[16]
Illinois		Cardinalis cardinalis		1929^[17]
Indiana		Cardinalis cardinalis		1933^[18]
Iowa	Eastern goldfinch (American goldfinch)	Spinus tristis tristis		1933^[19]
Kansas		Sturnella neglecta		1933^[20]
Kentucky		Cardinalis cardinalis		1926^[21]
Louisiana		Pelecanus occidentalis		1966^[22]
Maine		Poecile, species not specified (de facto Poecile atricapillus)^[23]		1927^[24]
Maryland		Icterus galbula		1947^[25]
Massachusetts		Poecile atricapilla		1941^[26]
Michigan		Turdus migratorius		1931^[27]
Minnesota		Gavia immer		1961^[28]
Mississippi		Mimus polyglottos		1944^[29]
Missouri		Sialia sialis		1927^[30]
Montana		Sturnella neglecta		1941^[31]
Nebraska		Sturnella neglecta		1929
Nevada		Sialia currucoides		1967^[32]
New Hampshire		Carpodacus purpureus		1957^[33]
New Jersey	Eastern goldfinch (American goldfinch)	Spinus tristis tristis		1935^[34]
New Mexico		Geococcyx californianus		1949^[35]
New York		Sialia sialis		1970^[36]
North Carolina		Cardinalis cardinalis		1943^[37]
North Dakota		Sturnella neglecta		1970^[38]
Northern Mariana Islands		Ptilinopus roseicapilla		?
Ohio		Cardinalis cardinalis		1933^[39]
Oklahoma		Tyrannus forficatus		1951^[40]
Oregon	Western meadowlark (state songbird)	Sturnella neglecta		1927^[41] 2017^[42]
Pennsylvania		Bonasa umbellus	—	1931
Puerto Rico	Puerto Rican spindalis (de facto)	Spindalis portoricensis	—	—^[43] ^[44]
Rhode Island		Gallus gallus		1954^[45]
South Carolina		Thryothorus ludovicianus		1948
South Dakota		Phasianus colchicus		1943^[46]
Tennessee		Mimus polyglottos		1933^[47]
Texas		Mimus polyglottos		1927^[48]
Utah		Larus californicus		1955^[49]
Vermont		Catharus guttatus		1941^[50]
Virgin Islands		Coereba flaveola		1970
Virginia		Cardinalis cardinalis		1950^[51]
Washington	Willow goldfinch (American goldfinch)	Spinus tristis salicamans		1951^[52]
West Virginia		Cardinalis cardinalis		1949^[53]
Wisconsin		Turdus migratorius		1949^[54]
Wyoming		Sturnella neglecta		1927^[55]

Notes

Other state birds

In addition to having a state bird, some states have chosen a state game bird (or state wild game bird), a state waterfowl (or state duck), a state raptor, or a bird as their state symbol of peace.

State	State bird	Scientific name	Photography	Year
Alabama	Wild turkey (state game bird)	Meleagris gallopavo		1980^[56]
Georgia	Bobwhite quail (state game bird)	Colinus virginianus		1970^[57]
Idaho	Peregrine falcon (state raptor)	Falco peregrinus		2004^[58]
Massachusetts	Wild turkey (state game bird)	Meleagris gallopavo		1991^[59]
Mississippi	Wood duck (state waterfowl)	Aix sponsa		1974^[60]
Missouri	Bobwhite quail (state game bird)	Colinus virginianus		2007^[61]
New Hampshire	Red-tailed hawk (state raptor)	Buteo jamaicensis		2019^[62]
Oklahoma	Wild turkey (state game bird)	Meleagris gallopavo		1990^[63]
Oregon	Osprey (state raptor)	Pandion haliaetus		2017^[64]
Pennsylvania	Ruffed grouse (state game bird)	Bonasa umbellus		1931
South Carolina	Northern mockingbird (former state bird)	Mimus polyglottos		1939 – 1948^[65]
	Wild turkey (state wild game bird)	Meleagris gallopavo		1976^[66]
	Wood duck (state duck)	Aix sponsa		2009^[67]
Tennessee	Bobwhite quail (state wild game bird)	Colinus virginianus		1987^[68]
Wisconsin	Eastern mourning dove (state symbol of peace)	Zenaida macroura carolinensis		1971^[69]

States with the same state bird

Some state birds are shared between multiple states. Of the 50 states, a total of 32 do not have a unique state bird.

Bird	of states
	7
	6
	5
Wild turkey (state game bird or wild game bird)	4
	3
Bobwhite quail (state game bird or wild game bird)	3
	3
	2
	2
	2
	2
Wood duck (state waterfowl or duck)	2

Notes

Notes and References

1. News: Courtney . David . The Texanist: Why Do We Share a State Bird With Five Other States? . Texas Monthly . October 2019 . 2020-12-28 . 2020-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201202193949/https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/texanist-why-share-state-bird/ . live .
2. Web site: GFWC Federation Facts . 2020-12-28 . . 2021-01-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210127013145/https://www.gfwc.org/gfwc-federation-facts/ . live .
3. Web site: Alabama State Bird . 2007-03-18 . 2006-04-27 . Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors . . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225424/http://www.archives.state.al.us/emblems/st_bird.html%20 . dead .
4. Web site: Alaska State Bird . Alaska History, Geography, Population and State Facts . Fact Monster . 2007-04-23 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225434/https://www.factmonster.com/us/fifty-states/alaska . live .
5. Web site: Arizona State Bird . Arizona State Bird- Cactus Wren . 50 States . 2007-04-23 . 2012-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120502173925/http://www.50states.com/bird/cactus.htm . live .
6. Web site: Arkansas State Bird . Arkansas State Bird- Mockingbird . About . 2007-04-23 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225425/http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjgeog/p/susarbird.htm%20 . dead .
7. Web site: California State Bird . California State Bird- California Quail . 50 States . 2007-04-23 . 2012-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120502173115/http://www.50states.com/bird/quail.htm . live .
8. Web site: Colorado State Bird . Colorado State Bird- Lark Bunting . About . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129121326/http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjgeog/p/suscobird.htm . 2014-11-29 .
9. Web site: Connecticut State Bird . The State Bird . State of Connecticut . 2007-04-24 . 2007-06-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070627111843/http://www.ct.gov/ctportal/cwp/view.asp?A=885&Q=246480 . live .
10. Web site: Delaware State Bird . California State Bird- Blue Hen Chicken . 50 States . 2007-04-24 . 2012-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120502175045/http://www.50states.com/bird/bluehen.htm . live .
11. Web site: District of Columbia State Bird . District of Columbia State Symbols . 50 States . 2007-04-24 . 2012-05-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120501183500/http://www.50states.com/dc.htm . live .
12. Web site: Florida State Bird . SHG Resources . https://web.archive.org/web/20060427040727/http://www.shgresources.com/fl/symbols/bird/ . 2006-04-27.
13. Web site: Georgia State Bird . Georgia State Bird Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225435/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/ga_brown_thrasher.htm%20 . live .
14. Web site: Public Laws 25th . Designation of "KO'KO" as the official Bird of Guam . Guam Legislature . 2021-09-13 . 2021-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422062354/http://guamlegislature.com/25th_public_laws.htm . live .
15. Web site: Hawaii State Bird . The Nene Goose- Branta Sandvicensis-Hawaii's State Bird . November 2009 . Aloha-Hawaii . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225444/https://www.alohacondos.com/travel/ . live .
16. Web site: Idaho State Bird . Idaho State Bird Mountain Bluebird . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225406/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/id_mountain_bluebird.htm%20 . live .
17. Web site: State Symbols . State of Illinois . 25 April 2015 . 18 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211218160555/https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/education/Pages/ILStateSymbols.aspx . dead .
18. Web site: Indiana State Bird. Indiana Historical Bureau. 25 April 2015. 19 March 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090319013713/http://www.in.gov/history/2796.htm. live.
19. Web site: Iowa State Bird . Iowa State Bird Eastern Goldfinch Carduelis tristis . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225419/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/ia_eastern_goldfinch.htm%20 . live .
20. Web site: Kansas State Bird . Kansas State Bird Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225407/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/ks_western_meadowlark.htm%20 . live .
21. Web site: Kentucky State Bird . Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. https://web.archive.org/web/20100318033341/http://www.kdla.ky.gov/resources/kystatebird.htm . 2010-03-18.
22. Web site: Louisiana State Bird . SHG Resources. https://web.archive.org/web/20070228235547/http://www.shgresources.com/la/symbols/bird . 2007-02-28.
23. Web site: 2019-03-06 . Maine lawmakers end the flap over Maine's state bird . 2024-04-11 . Press Herald.
24. https://bangordailynews.com/2019/02/28/news/state/a-nest-divided-maines-great-chickadee-debate/ The problem with naming 'the chickadee' as Maine's state bird
25. Web site: Maryland State Bird . Louisiana State Bird Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225428/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/md_baltimore_oriole.htm%20 . live .
26. Web site: Massachusetts State Bird. SHG Resources . 2023-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120224034147/http://www.shgresources.com/ma/symbols/bird/ . 2012-02-24.
27. Web site: Michigan State Bird . Michigan State Bird American Robin Turdus migratorius . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225418/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/mi_american_robin.htm . live .
28. Web site: Minnesota State Bird . Minnesota State Bird Common Loon Gavia immer . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225429/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/mn_common_loon.htm%20 . live .
29. Web site: Mississippi State Bird. SHG Resources . 2023-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110609072118/http://www.shgresources.com/ms/symbols/bird/ . 2011-06-09.
30. Web site: State Symbols of Missouri. Missouri's State Bird. Missouri Secretary of State. 2020-06-18. 2020-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20200619040731/https://www.sos.mo.gov/symbol/bird. live.
31. Web site: Montana State Bird . Michigan State Bird Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225406/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/mt_western_meadowlark.htm%20 . live .
32. Web site: Nevada State Bird . Nevada State Bird, mountain bluebird . Val-U-Corp Services, Inc. . 2007-04-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150114023107/http://www.val-u-corp.com/articles/nevada-state-bird.html . 2015-01-14 . dead .
33. Web site: New Hampshire State Bird. SHG Resources . 2023-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110609072150/http://www.shgresources.com/nh/symbols/bird/ . 2011-06-09.
34. Web site: New Jersey State Symbols . The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey . 2023-03-03 . 2023-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306224350/https://www.state.nj.us/nj/about/symbols/ . live .
35. Web site: New Mexico State Bird – Roadrunner . New Mexico State Bird – Roadrunner – Geococcyx californianus . 50states.com . 2015-06-25 . 2015-06-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150626103336/http://www.50states.com/bird/new-mexico.htm . live .
36. Web site: New York State Bird . New York State Bird Bluebird Sialia sialis . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225449/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/ny_bluebird.htm%20 . live .
37. Web site: North Carolina State Bird . Cardinal- North Carolina State Bird . NC Department of State . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225413/https://www.sosnc.gov/pubsweb/symbols/sy-cardi.htm . live .
38. Web site: North Dakota State Bird . North Dakota State Bird Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225429/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/nd_western_meadowlark.htm%20 . live .
39. Web site: Ohio State Bird . Ohio's State Bird- The Cardinal . Ohio History Central . 2007-04-04 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225426/http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Welcome_To_Ohio_History_Central . live .
40. Web site: Oklahoma State Bird . Birds of Oklahoma . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080219224025/http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/State%20bird.htm . 2008-02-19 .
41. Web site: Oregon State Bird . Oregon State Bird Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225420/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/or_western_meadowlark.htm%20 . live .
42. Web site: Senate Concurrent Resolution 18. Oregon State Legislature. February 3, 2023. October 31, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201031170230/https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2017R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SCR18/Enrolled. live.
43. Web site: ¿Tenemos o no un ave nacional? . La Perla del Sur. 2023-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220616055400/https://www.periodicolaperla.com/tenemos-no-ave-nacional/ . 2022-06-16.
44. https://www.cienciapr.org/es/external-news/debate-por-el-ave-nacional-primera-parte Debate por el Ave Nacional (primera parte).
45. Web site: Rhode Island State Bird. SHG Resources . 2023-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120224034422/http://www.shgresources.com/ri/symbols/bird/ . 2012-02-24.
46. Web site: South Dakota State Bird . South Dakota State Bird Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225437/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/sd_ring_necked_pheasant.htm%20 . live .
47. Web site: Tennessee State Bird. SHG Resources . 2023-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061009090611/http://www.shgresources.com/tn/symbols/bird/ . 2006-10-09.
48. Web site: Texas State Bird . The Texas State Bird: Mockingbird . 9 August 2022 . Lone Star Junction . 24 April 2007 . 24 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225409/http://www.lsjunction.com/bird.htm%20 . live .
49. Web site: Utah State Bird . Utah State Bird California Gull Larus californicus . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225427/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/ut_california_gull.htm%20 . live .
50. Web site: Vermont State Bird . Vermont State Bird- Hermit Thrush . About . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129121401/http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjgeog/p/susvtbird.htm . 2014-11-29 .
51. Web site: Virginia State Bird . Netstate . 2005-04-17 . 2007-04-06 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225408/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/va_cardinal.htm%20 . live .
52. Web site: Symbols of Washington State . Washington State Legislature . 2007-03-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070305110012/http://www1.leg.wa.gov/Legislature/StateSymbols/ . 2007-03-05.
53. Web site: West Virginia State Bird . Netstate . 2007-04-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225423/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/birds/wv_cardinal.htm%20 . live .
54. Web site: Wisconsin State Bird. SHG Resources . 2023-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060112135532/http://www.shgresources.com/wi/symbols/bird/ . 2006-01-12.
55. Web site: Wyoming Facts and Symbols . State of Wyoming . 2020-09-18 . 2016-09-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160920053220/http://www.wyo.gov/about-wyoming/wyoming-facts-and-symbols . live .
56. Web site: Official Alabama Game Bird . 2007-03-18 . 2003-11-17 . Alabama Emblems, Symb and Honors . . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225428/http://www.archives.state.al.us/emblems/st_gbird.html%20 . dead .
57. Web site: Georgia Secretary of State – State Game Bird . Georgia Secretary of State . State of Georgia . 2008-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120729125902/http://sos.georgia.gov/archives/state_symbols/state_game_bird.html . 2012-07-29 . dead .
58. Web site: Idaho State Raptor . Idaho State Raptor Peregrine Falcon . Netstate . 2020-04-24 . 2020-08-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200803123850/https://www.netstate.com/states/symb/raptors/id_peregrine_falcon.htm . live .
59. Web site: CIS: State Symbols. 2007-05-07. 2011-05-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20110512231025/http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cismaf/mf1a.htm. live.
60. Web site: Mississippi State Symbols, Emblems, and Mascots. SHG Resources . 2023-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060107074657/http://www.shgresources.com/ms/symbols/ . 2006-01-07.
61. Web site: HOUSE BILL NO. 576 . HOUSE BILL NO. 576 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY . State of Missouri . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20100602231027/http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills071/billpdf/intro/HB0576I.PDF . 2010-06-02 .
62. Web site: State Raptor, New Hampshire Almanac. State of New Hampshire. 2022-02-26. 2022-01-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127192622/https://www.nh.gov/almanac/raptor.htm. live.
63. Web site: Oklahoma State Game Bird. Official State Game Birds. NSTATE, LLC.. 2016-12-14. 2017-05-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20170525080209/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/gamebirds/ok_wild_turkey.htm. live.
64. Web site: Oregon Almanac: Abbreviation to Crustacean. Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. December 21, 2021. October 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181025031336/https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/facts/almanac/a-c.aspx. live.
65. Web site: SC Statehouse Student's web page, State Symbols and Emblems, State Bird . . 2007-07-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070702093638/http://www.scstatehouse.net/studentpage/bird.htm . 2007-07-02.
66. Web site: SC Statehouse Student's web page, State Symbols and Emblems, State Wild Game Bird . . 2007-07-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070706061105/http://www.scstatehouse.net/studentpage/turkey.htm . 2007-07-06.
67. Web site: South Carolina State Duck. Official State Ducks. NSTATE, LLC.. 2020-04-24. 2020-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20200803104538/https://www.netstate.com/states/symb/ducks/sc_wood_duck.htm. live.
68. Web site: Tennessee State Symbols . Tennessee State General Assembly . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080509141006/http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/homework/symbols.html . 2008-05-09 .
69. Web site: Wisconsin Historical Society . Wisconsin State Symbols . 23 May 2012 . Wisconsin Historical Society . 24 April 2020 . 7 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210907200207/https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2908 . live .