Search and Learn: The State Birds of the US

Each US state has designated a bird that represents the state. This tradition of bird selection for this purpose dates back all the way to 1927, when seven states began by choosing their state birds. The states were Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Maine, Texas, Oregon, and Wyoming, and their respective state birds were the Yellowhammer, the Northern Mockingbird, the Eastern Bluebird, the Black-capped Chickadee, the Northern Mockingbird, and the Western Meadowlark. Certain birds are chosen as the official state birds of any given state based on their appearance or their significance to the state and its history. The US has a long history of using birds as symbols, and this is seen no better than the bald eagle having been used as part of the Great Seal of the US for the first time on June 20, 1782. The following is a resource list of all the state birds of the 50 states in the Union.

Alabama

• All About the Yellowhammer (Colaptes auratus): An informative article from the University of Nebraska that provides details on the habits of the Yellowhammer.

• Woodpecker of Alabama: Web page that explains how the Yellowhammer is a type of woodpecker and also the state bird of Alabama.

Alaska

• Specifics of the Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus): Webpage that provides classification information for the Willow Ptarmigan, along with a sound clip of its call.

• Introduction to the Willow Ptarmigan: Informational piece from the Birds of North America website that gives readers a detailed introduction to this state bird of Alaska.

Arizona

• Brunneicapillus) Article: Informative article from the University of California about the behaviors of the Cactus Wren.

• The Cactus Wren Explained: Web page that offers information about the predators that hunt the Cactus Wren, along with photos of it.

Arkansas

• Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Information: From Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology comes an extensive web page that features information on the mockingbird’s (aka, Northern Mockingbird) food and habitat.

• Mockingbird Revealed: Web page that features several pictures of the mockingbird and extensive information on what it eats and how it behaves.

California

• California Quail (Callipepla californica) on Campus: Web page from the California State University at San Bernardino provides identification information for this state bird.

• California Quail Identification: Web page that offers readers tips on what to look for in identifying both male and female California Quails.

Colorado

• Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys): Colorado’s State Bird: Webpage that provides visitors with all the important information they must know about Colorado’s state bird.

• Lark Bunting Specifics: Web page that specializes in birds offers vital information on this bird, such as its call and its habitat.

Connecticut

• Description of the American Robin (Turdus migratorius): The American Robin is featured on a webpage that explores its habitat, diet and behavior.

• American Robin Resource Page: Web page that provides visitors with several authoritative links to websites with information on the American Robin.

Delaware

• Origin of Blue Hen Chicken State Bird Status: Web-page from the University of Delaware features information on how this state bird’s popularity with soldiers led the way to it becoming the state bird.

• Blue Hen Chicken (Gallus gallus) Facts: Webpage that features several paragraphs on the Delaware state bird, and how it was known for its fighting prowess.

Florida

• What’s a Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)?: Information from Ohio’s state government about its state bird includes its habits, its description, and its habitat.

• Northern Mockingbird Details: Web page from Alabama’s state government on the basic facts surrounding the Northern Mockingbird.

Georgia

• Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) Specifics: Government webpage provides details about the Brown Thrasher, including the extent of its range and its habitat.

• Brown Thrasher Facts: Details on a myriad of Brown Thrasher factors are revealed, including its feeding habits and its coloration.

Hawaii

• Information on the Hawaii Goose (Branta sandvicensis): Government webpage distributes knowledge about the Hawaiian Goose, including its breeding habits and its habitat.

• Hawaiian Goose Fact Page: Informative web page on the goose provides information on its ecology, range, population statistics, and threats it faces.

Idaho

• Details of the Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides): Biologist webpage provides information about the Idaho state bird’s range and breeding habits, and also provides pictures of both male and female versions.

• Mountain Bluebird Resource: Web page that offers information on the Mountain Bluebird’s natural history and its distribution, along with a picture of it.

Illinois

• Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Profile: Webpage that answers questions about the Northern Cardinal, like what it looks like and where it lives.

• Write-up: Write-up on the Northern Cardinal that features facts on its diet, range, and mating and reproduction rites.

Indiana

• Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Profile: Information on the Northern Cardinal contains facts on how often it mates and how to recognize it.

• Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Exposed: Description of the state bird of Indiana includes how to recognize it and how long it is.

Iowa

• American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) Explained: Webpage contains all the facts that people could want to know about the American Goldfinch, which is also called the Eastern Goldfinch.

• Identifying an American Goldfinch: Information provided on how to recognize this Iowa state bird at different times of the year.

Kansas

• Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) Article: Article detailing information about the Western Meadowlark, like its distribution and how many eggs they lay.

• State Bird Vote: Details on how the Western Meadowlark became the state bird of Kansas, which was by a vote of schoolchildren.

Kentucky

• All About the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis): Webpage provides several interesting facts about Kentucky’s state bird.

• Northern Cardinal Stats: Stats on the Northern Cardinal include information on its diet, where it lives, and what its predators are.

Louisiana

• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) Fact Guide: Webpage from the Smithsonian Marine Station features information on the Louisiana state bird’s locomotion and appearance.

• Brown Pelican Webpage: Facts about the state bird are presented, such as what its behavior is and what it looks like.

Maine

• Details of the Black-capped Chickadee: Exhaustive page on this Maine state bird includes information on its diet and habitat.

• Exploring the Black-capped Chickadee: Web page talks about this Maine state bird and features details on its neural subrates and behavior.

Maryland

• Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) State Symbol: Information on the Baltimore Oriole includes facts about its feathers and its appearance.

• Identifying an Oriole: Web page that is dedicated to helping visitors correctly identify the Oriole by sight.

Massachusetts

• Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla) Habits: Information on the habits of Massachusetts’ state bird includes mentions about how it can become tame enough to eat out of the hand.

• Learning about the Black-capped Chickadee: Information on the Black-capped Chickadee includes mentions of its habitat along with a sample of its song.

Michigan

• Robins in Spring: Information on the American Robin and how it emerges during spring time is featured on this web page.

• American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Factoids: Details on the American Robin include its distinguishing features and how it nests.

Minnesota

• Common Loon (Gavia immer) Fact Sheet: Information on the common loon includes all its basic stats like its wing span, weight, and Latin name.

• Common Loon Conservation: Web page features conservation information for this state bird, including challenges to its survival.

Mississippi

• Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Characteristics: Webpage that features information on the Northern Mockingbird, including its life cycle and its range.

• Northern Mockingbird Examined: Detailed article on all the attributes of this state bird of Mississippi.

Missouri

• Range of Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis): Webpage that offers a wealth of information on the range of this state bird of Missouri.

• Eastern Bluebird Descriptions: Web page that features the basics on the Eastern Bluebird, everything from its physical description to its vocalizations.

Montana

• Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) Profile: Fundamental information about this Montana state bird is provided, including nesting information and diet information.

Nebraska

• Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) and its Habits: Webpage that describes the habits and characteristics of this Nebraska state bird.

Nevada

• Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) Revealed: Webpage of Nevada’s state bird informs visitors of its size and its behavior.

New Hampshire

• Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) Write-up: Explanation of the purple finch, including interesting facts about it and where it can be found.

New Jersey

• Eastern Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) Defined: The habits of the Eastern Goldfinch are defined on this web page, along with its favorite foods.

New Mexico

• What is a Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)?: Webpage that features several paragraphs on the Roadrunner and what other animals it feeds on.

New York

• Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and Predation: Informative look at what kinds of predators this New York state bird faces.

North Carolina

• Attracting the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis): Webpage that talks about where this North Carolina’s state bird can be found and how to attract it.

North Dakota

• Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) Defined: Webpage provides specific details about the North Dakota state bird, including how territorial it is and information on its breeding cycle.

Ohio

• Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Facts: National Geographic webpage that provides essential information on the state bird of Ohio.

Oklahoma

• All about the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus): An in-depth look at the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher includes information about diet and its flight.

Oregon

• Information on the Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta): A detailed look at the Western Meadowlark includes information on its range, behavior, and habitat.

Pennsylvania

• Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) Facts: From the Ruffed Grouse Society comes information about the Pennsylvania state bird includes information about its population, range, and physical description.

Rhode Island

• Rhode Island Red Chicken (Gallus gallus) Information Page: Information page on the Rhode Island Red Chicken contains facts about how often it lays eggs and what its origins are.

South Carolina

• Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Data: Data on the South Carolina state bird contains information about where its nests are found and its territory.

South Dakota

• Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) Resource: Informative webpage on the Common Pheasant includes basic facts along with a video on the bird in its habitat.

Tennessee

• Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Demystified: Webpage devoted to explaining the Northern Mockingbird species of mockingbird to visitors.

Texas

• Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) in Texas: Explanation of the Northern Mockingbird in Texas includes how it mates and information about its behavior.

Utah

• California Gull (Larus californicus) Biogeography: Informative webpage contains detailed facts about the state bird’s distribution and evolution.

Vermont

• Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) Revealed: A look at the Hermit Thrush reveals information about its status, habitat, and observable field marks.

Virginia

• Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) and Gardening: Webpage that explores the frequency of this state bird to bird feeders also provides information on its description.

Washington

• American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) Overview: Webpage that provides a whole host on the state bird of Washington, including breeding and feeding information.

West Virginia

• Song of the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis): Webpage devoted to the song of this state bird features a photo of the bird along with an audio clip of its voice.

Wisconsin

• American Robin (Turdus migratorius) on the Web: Webpage that teaches kids about the American Robin, including information on its feeding, nesting and general appearance.

Wyoming

• The Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) Unveiled: Webpage that provides specifics on the state bird’s nests, behavior, and songs.