Amazing Facts About How State Birds Were Selected - Part 3

In 1927, Texas adopted the Northern Mockingbird as their state bird. The legislature names the bird and gives the reason it is appropriate--it is found in all parts of the state, in city and country, on prairie and in woods and hills. In a state the size of Texas, with such a huge diversity in terrain, the Northern Mockingbird, was perfect. The legislators also praised the Northern Mockingbird for defending its home territory.

The Northern Mockingbird was adopted by Florida in 1927. At this time, Florida was a state filled with small towns and orange groves and wanted to appear as a truly American state, not an exotic destination filled with unique wildlife and tropical birds such as the flamingo or roseate spoonbill might suggest. People from all walks of life could relate to the Northern Mockingbird.

In 1929, the Northern Mockingbird was adopted as the state bird of Arkansas. Initially, people thought that the selection of this bird was a joke. A campaign by the Arkansas State Federation of Women's Clubs gained the necessary support for this bird. They selected the Northern Mockingbird, not because it is rare, has a beautiful song, or is exclusive to Arkansas, but rather because people were familiar with it and Northern Mockingbirds feeds on insects and seeds that are harmful to the crops grown in the state.

Tennessee adopted the Northern Mockingbird in 1933. The Northern Mockingbird was something all residents could recognize, but other birds were as well. The Tennessee Ornithological Society held a statewide election, and the Northern Mockingbird defeated the American Robin in a close contest. The legislators formally confirmed the bird by joint resolution only eight days later.

In 1944, Mississippi chose the Northern Mockingbird as their state bird. The Women's Federated Clubs selected this bird and got the legislature to back their choice. As the last of the Southern states to adopt the Northern Mockingbird, they were demonstrating a geographic unity as much as a specific state choice.

The Nene or Hawaiian Goose, Branta sandvicensis, was adopted as the territorial bird of Hawaii in 1957, two years before it became a state. At that time, the wild population was believed to be only 30 birds. This is opposite of most state birds, which are chosen because they are very populous. The Nene is native only to Hawaii (although I have seen it in captivity in North Carolina at Sylvan Heights Bird Park). It is the only goose which is a state bird.

The Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula, was adopted by the state of Maryland in 1947. The state of Maryland was founded by the second Baron Baltimore Calvert whose family coat of arms include a black and orange checked pattern now included in the Maryland State Flag. The black and orange of the Baltimore Oriole reflect these colors and the bird was given the common name, Baltimore Oriole, as a result. The baseball team was named after these birds in 1954, when they moved to Baltimore. This is the only oriole that is a state bird.

Louisiana adopted the Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, in 1966. They did so shortly after the Brown Pelican was no longer seen along their shores. The statute says the Brown Pelican 'as it presently appears' on the seal; it also appears on the state flag. The unusual part of this is that the Brown Pelican used on the seal and flag is a depiction of a bird tearing her breast to feed her young. This is symbolic of care, sacrifice, and protection. Although Brown Pelicans ceased nesting in Louisiana in 1961 due to DDT issues, work to re-establish them in the state began in 1968 from a Florida-based population.

The Ring-Necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, was adopted by South Dakota in 1943. The Ring-Necked Pheasant is not native to the state; it was introduced in 1908 and the first pheasant hunting season was in 1919. By 1943, the Ring-Necked Pheasant had become a symbol of the state's rural and outdoor identities. The tourism industry created around pheasant hunting is still one of the top economic influxes in the state. In 2006, the bird gained national attention when it was placed on the South Dakota Quarter above Mount Rushmore.

In 1955, the Alaska Willow Ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus, was adopted as the territorial bird of Alaska. To select the bird, the territory allowed the schoolchildren to vote and ptarmigan won. The Willow Ptarmigan has a huge range which extends through a variety of terrains, including coastal, boreal, and tundra, so it is not surprising that many children wanted to vote for it. When Alaska became a state four years later, in 1959, the territorial bird became the state bird. Perhaps the seasonal and dramatic change in plumage from brown in the summer to white in the winter helped ensure its place as the state bird. The Willow Ptarmigan remains a legal game bird.

The California Valley Quail, Callipepla californica (formerly known as Lophortyx californica), was adopted by California in 1931. The people of California chose a bird that already had their state's name in it. They made it more than just their state bird, they also made it the avifaunal emblem of California. The California Quail inhabits the scrubland terrain that covers much of the state, from north to south, so it is widely recognized by residents and visitors alike.

The Greater Roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus, was adopted by New Mexico in 1949. The law actually reads, 'chaparral bird, commonly called roadrunner.' Using the common name of the bird makes it appear more as something regional to New Mexico than a random desert bird selected from a field guide. The Greater Roadrunner is associated with dry landscapes and roadways, making it relatable to both residents and visitors. Twenty years later, in 1969, New Mexico chose Dusty Roadrunner as the mascot for litter control.

The American Robin, Turdus migratorius, is the state bird of Michigan, Connecticut, and Wisconsin. It is not a true robin, but became known the American Robin since it has a red breast and a brown body like the European namesake. It is actually a thrush.

In 1931, Michigan chose the American Robin as their state bird. In that year, the Michigan Audubon Society organized a vote and received over 200,000 ballots, including many from schoolchildren. The American Robin was well known and had a range that extended throughout both peninsulas. The overwhelming popularity of the bird resulted in legislature that ratified this selection.

The American Robin was adopted as the state bird of Connecticut in 1943. Connecticut was one of the most densely populated states at the time, so they were looking for a bird that was found in urban areas rather than a rare bird only found in certain areas of the state. Most people recognized the American Robin and associated its return with the start of spring.

In 1949, Wisconsin adopted the American Robin. During the school year of 1926-27, the children in Wisconsin chose the American Robin as the state bird as part of organized bird-study work in the classroom. The State Federation of Women's Clubs kept pushing legislators to finalize the process for over twenty years until they finally approved the bird.

In 1935, the Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum, was named the state bird of Georgia. Georgia is the only state that has two state birds--the Brown Thrasher is the state bird and the Bobwhite Quail is the state game bird. The Brown Thrasher is located throughout Georgia in virtually every terrain. You can audibly differentiate a Brown Thrasher from a Gray Catbird or Northern Mockingbird by the number of times it repeats each song--the Brown Thrasher typically sings the same song twice. Georgia is the only state to use the Brown Thrasher as their state bird.

Vermont adopted the Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus, in 1941. Although the Hermit Thrush is a migratory species, legislators selected the bird because it is found in all fourteen counties, has long been associated with the state's wooded hills, and has a clear, flute-like call that residents easily recognize.

The Coues' Cactus Wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus (formerly known as heleodytes brunneicapillus couesi), was adopted by Arizona in 1931 in the same bill that adopted the Saguaro Blossom as the state flower. The bird was named for Elliott Coues, a naturalist who documented bird species throughout the Southwest, including the Arizona Territory. This desert bird remains a resident of the Sonoran Desert throughout the year, nesting in saguaros and other thorny plants. It is one of two wrens that are state birds.

In 1948, South Carolina adopted the Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus, the other wren that is a state bird. The Carolina Wren was not the first choice of South Carolina; the Northern Mockingbird was adopted in 1939. The people of South Carolina chose the Carolina Wren since the bird's common name contained the word Carolina, because it was a year-round resident, and since it could be found throughout the state. In 2000, the bird gained national attention when it was placed on the South Carolina Quarter.