Feathered Ambassadors

By Karen Sutherland, Downers Grove, Illinois

From the American goldfinch and common loon (at right) to the northern cardinal and yellowhammer, all 50 states honor a specific bird as its official avian symbol. In total, 28 different birds are acknowledged in this way, since various states selected the same bird. Canada's provinces and territories add another 11 birds to the list of official species.

Even though the United States' national symbol—the bald eagle—was selected in 1782, it wasn't until 1926 that a state honored a feathered friend. Kentucky was the first when it picked the northern cardinal in 1926.

To Honor and Protect

There are many reasons a state might select a particular bird to represent it. Some are indigenous species or in need of conservation. Others, like the northern cardinal (left), simply are backyard favorites. This bright-red bird is the selected symbol in seven states, including Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.

Other birds chosen by several states or provinces include eastern bluebirds, mountain bluebirds, western meadowlarks, northern mockingbirds, black-capped chickadees, common loons, American robins and American goldfinches.

Selecting endangered birds as state symbols can serve to promote awareness about the problems the species face.

New York, the last state to declare an official state bird, chose the eastern bluebird (below right) in 1970. Around this time, bluebird populations were rapidly declining due to a loss of habitat.

Fans of the dwindling scrub-jay in Florida would like to see it take the place of the current state bird, the northern mockingbird, to help increase its chances of survival.

Hawaii currently honors an endangered bird, the Hawaiian goose, or nene (pronounced "nay-nay"), as its state symbol. In ancient times, more than 25,000 of the birds roamed the island chain, but by the 1940s, only about 12 were left. Due to conservation efforts, 200 to 500 nene now live in Hawaii's sanctuaries and national parks.

The purple finch, the official bird of New Hampshire, is a talented songster. It's also a good companion to that state's purple state flower, the fragrant lilac-though the bird is more of a rich rose color than a true purple. Still, this finch is fitting for the state, since the birds reside in the evergreen forests that cover much of the Northeast.

Singing Their Praises

Among the most striking songbirds in North America is Maryland's state bird, the Baltimore oriole. It's a natural pick for this state, since it was named in honor of Lord Baltimore, Cecilius Calvert, one of the state's founders. Residents there and elsewhere also enjoy the male's clear, whistled song.

The common loon, selected by both Minnesota and Ontario, is known for its mournful wail that reverberates in the woods surrounding the lakes it seeks out during nesting season.

Two other thrushes, species known for their melodious voices, also are state selections—the hermit thrush of Vermont and the wood thrush of the District of Columbia.

Choices, Choices

In several states, schoolchildren were given the opportunity to choose the state bird. One of these is Alaska's willow ptarmigan, which the state's youth selected.

It's an appropriate symbol for that state. This hardy bird is well suited to withstand long, cold winters. A form of feathers edge their feet and toes to form "snowshoes" that enable them to walk on snowdrifts without sinking. These game birds have mottled brown feathers in summer, but molt into white plumage for protective camouflage in winter.

Several other game birds represent the states: the California quail of California, the ruffed grouse of Pennsylvania, and the ring-necked pheasant of South Dakota.

The largest state bird is the brown pelican (right), which represents Louisiana. These birds, which can eat up to 11 pounds of fish a day, are a common sight along the state's coastline and waterways.

Many people know it as a popular cartoon character, but in New Mexico, the greater roadrunner is the state bird. Early pioneers were amazed when they spotted this speedy ground bird running ahead of their wagons. Today, roadrunners can even be seen racing cars on the highway. They nest in cholla cacti and dine on desert animals like small snakes, lizards, mice and scorpions.

Each state or province has its own interesting reasons behind the selection of its official bird. Check out the list on the next page to see which species represents your state, and then keep your eyes open to see if you can spot these "state celebrities" in your backyard.

What's Your State Bird?

(Ring-necked pheasant, state bird of South Dakota)

• Alabama Yellowhammer

• Alaska Willow ptarmigan

• Arizona Cactus wren

• Arkansas Mockingbird

• California California quail

• Colorado Lark bunting

• Connecticut American robin

• Delaware Blue hen chicken

• Dist. of Columbia Wood thrush

• Florida Mockingbird

• Georgia Brown thrasher

• Hawaii Hawaiian goose

• Idaho Mountain bluebird

• Illinois Cardinal

• Indiana Cardinal

• Iowa American goldfinch

• Kansas Western meadowlark

• Kentucky Cardinal

• Louisiana Brown pelican

• Maine Black-capped chickadee

• Maryland Baltimore oriole

• Massachusetts Black-capped chickadee

• Michigan American robin

• Minnesota Common loon

• Mississippi Mockingbird

• Missouri Eastern bluebird

• Montana Western meadowlark

• Nebraska Western meadowlark

• Nevada Mountain bluebird

• New Hampshire Purple finch

• New Jersey American goldfinch

• New Mexico Roadrunner

• New York Eastern bluebird

• North Carolina Cardinal

• North Dakota Western meadowlark

• Ohio Cardinal

• Oklahoma Scissor-tailed flycatcher

• Oregon Western meadowlark

• Pennsylvania Ruffed grouse

• Rhode Island Rhode Island red

• South Carolina Carolina wren

• South Dakota Ring-necked pheasant

• Tennessee Mockingbird

• Texas Mockingbird

• Utah California gull

• Vermont Hermit thrush

• Virginia Cardinal

• Washington American goldfinch

• West Virginia Cardinal

• Wisconsin American robin

• Wyoming Western meadowlark

Canada's Provincial Birds

• Alberta Great horned owl

• British Columbia Steller's jay

• Manitoba Great gray owl

• New Brunswick Black-capped chickadee

• Newfoundland Atlantic puffin

• Northwest Territories Gyrfalcon

• Nova Scotia Osprey

• Nunavut Rock ptarmigan

• Ontario Common loon

• Prince Edward Island Blue jay

• Quebec Snowy owl

• Saskatchewan Sharp-tailed grouse

• Yukon Raven