Can You Guess the Official State Bird of All 50 States?

Cardinals, robins, and wrens, oh my! Take this quiz to see if you can correctly guess the official state bird for each state.

Alabama
5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Alabama

Hint: This is a common species present year round in Alabama. You’ll also want to check out these dazzling bird photos.

northern flicker
Courtesy Janine Martin/Birds & Blooms

Alabama

Answer: Northern Flicker

Alaska
5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Alaska

Hint: This bird is known for having feathered toes and changing from light brown in the summer months to snow white in the winter.

Alaska's state bird, the willow ptarmigan, in Denali National Park at the beginning of winter in the middle of molting from summer to winter plumage
Troutnut/Shutterstock

Alaska

Answer: Willow Ptarmigan

arizona
5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Arizona

Hint: This white, brown, and black bird was officially adopted at the state bird in 1931.

Courtesy Diane Barone/Birds & Blooms

Arizona

Answer: Cactus Wren

arkansas
5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

Arkansas

Hint: This gray and white bird with an ear-catching tune also appears in the title of a very famous Harper Lee novel.

Northern Mockingbird, state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas, member of the Mimidae family.
David Spates/Shutterstock

Arkansas

Answer: Northern Mockingbird

california
5W Infographics for Reader's Digest

California

Hint: This state bird is known for being plump and small. It’s also a very prized game bird.

The California quail (Callipepla californica), also known as the California valley quail or valley quail, is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family.
Cezary Wojtkowski/Shutterstock

California

Answer: California Quail

colorado

Colorado

Hint: Colorado’s state bird is part of the sparrow family. It’s well known for its courtship dance and song.

Lark bunting on post, state bird of Colorado

Colorado

Answer: Lark Bunting

connecticut

Connecticut

Hint: This bird is one of America’s favorite songbirds. It’s also in the name of a popular burger joint.

robin nest with nestlings
Courtesy Linda Rappel

Connecticut

Answer: American Robin

delaware

Delaware

Hint: This state bird is actually a chicken. It’s also the mascot for the University of Delaware.

Bigblue Delaware big blue hen biblue dark color on white background

Delaware

Answer: Blue Hen Chicken

florida

Florida

Hint: Florida has the same state bird as Arkansas.

mockingbird
Courtesy Rick Cafiero

Florida

Answer: Mockingbird

georgia

Georgia

Hint: The governor declared this the state bird in 1935, it wasn’t publicly recognized as the state bird until 1970.

brown thrasher
Courtesy Saundra Schuler

Georgia

Answer: Brown Thrasher

hawaii

Hawaii

Hint: Hawaii’s state bird is a land bird that is a variety of Hawaiian Goose. It’s claw-like feet and modified wing structure help it adapt to island life.

The Nene, The Hawaii's State Bird

Hawaii

Answer: Nene

idaho

Idaho

Hint: This pretty colored bird can be found in the mountains of Idaho. See if you can guess the U.S. state by its flag.

illinois

Illinois

Hint: This very popular red bird is also the state bird for six other states.

Cardinal on a snowy branch surrounded by red berries
Courtesy Paul Hersey

Illinois

Answer: Northern Cardinal

indiana

Indiana

Hint: Indiana’s state bird is one of the six other states that share a state bird with Illinois.

Cardinals seek cover in evergreen trees
Courtesy Ronald Washington

Indiana

Answer: Northern Cardinal

iowa

Iowa

Hint: The male species of this bird is very bright. They like to eat seeds from dandelions, sunflowers, ragweed, and evening primrose.

goldfinch and sunflower
Courtesy Hannah Jones

Iowa

Answer: American Goldfinch

kansas

Kansas

Hint: The state bird of Kansas is a familiar songbird. Do you know what it is? See if you can guess the U.S. state from its nickname.

A Western Meadowlark perched on shrub, Colorado, spring time.

Kansas

Answer: Western Meadowlark

kentucky

Kentucky

Hint: This bird is known for its “cheer cheer cheer,” “whit-chew whit-chew” and “purdy purdy purdy” whistles.

Cardinals on a birdbath
Courtesy Kerry Loving

Kentucky

Answer: Northern Cardinal

louisiana

Louisiana

Hint: If you know Louisiana’s nickname, you’ll know their state bird. It also appears on the state flag and seal.

Endangered Brown Pelican Latin name Pelecanus occidentalis

Louisiana

Answer: Brown Pelican

maine

Maine

Hint: This common backyard bird is a member of the titmouse family.

 closeup of black-capped chickadee in the forest of the randall davey audobon center and sanctuary near santa fe, new mexico

Maine

Answer: Black-Capped Chickadee

maryland

Maryland

Hint: Think about the name of the well-known baseball team from Baltimore.

orange feeder for orioles
Courtesy Spencer Lingenfelter

Maryland

Answer: Baltimore Oriole

massachussetts

Massachusetts

Hint: Massachusetts shares a state bird with Maine.

black-capped chickadee
Courtesy John Piznuir

Massachusetts

Answer: Black-Capped Chickadee

michigan

Michigan

Hint: These birds are often seen pulling up earthworms in your backyard.

robin
Courtesy C. Denise Maples

Michigan

Answer: American Robin

minnesota

Minnesota

Hint: The state bird of Minnesota can be found in and around lakes. They are known for their eerie cries, wails, and yodels.

Mister Red Eye

Minnesota

Answer: Common Loon

mississippi

Mississippi

Hint: This talented bird can sing up to 200 songs, some of which include the songs of other birds, and insect and amphibian sounds.

Northern Mockingbird perched on tree branch, state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.

Mississippi

Answer: Mockingbird

missouri

Missouri

Hint: This blue and reddish-orange bird has a short tail and chunky body.

bluebirds at a mealworm feeder
Courtesy CIndy Emery

Missouri

Answer: Eastern Bluebird

montana

Montana

Hint: This state bird was actually chosen by Montana’s school children. It has a yellow breast and a black spot on the throat.

Western Meadowlark bird

Montana

Answer: Western Meadowlark

nebraska

Nebraska

Hint: Nebraska’s state bird has a black and white striped head, yellow cheeks, and a bright yellow throat.

western meadowlark
Courtesy Jake Bonello

Nebraska

Answer: Western Meadowlark

nevada

Nevada

Hint: Nevada shares a state bird with Idaho.

Male mountain bluebird sitting on a branch

Nevada

Answer: Mountain Bluebird

new-hampshire

New Hampshire

Hint: The bird of this New England state has the color “purple” in its name.

purple finch at a tray feeder
Courtesy Rosemarie Pace

New Hampshire

Answer: Purple Finch

nj

New Jersey

Hint: This bird is also known as a wild canary or willow goldfinch.

goldfinch on tray feeder
Courtesy Ashton F.

New Jersey

Answer: American Goldfinch

new-mexico

New Mexico

Hint: New Mexico’s state bird is also a popular cartoon that runs really fast.

Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) in the New Mexico desert

New Mexico

Answer: Greater Roadrunner

NY

New York

Hint: New York shares a state bird with Missouri.

Male Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) on a perch with a green background

New York

Answer: Eastern Bluebird

north-carolina

North Carolina

Hint: The male species of this state bird is a brilliant red color.

A male cardinal sits on the branch of a plum tree covered in pink blooms.
Courtesy Trina Ansel

North Carolina

Answer: Northern Cardinal

north-dakota

North Dakota

Hint: This bird can be spotted on the western side of the continent (from Wisconsin down to Texas and over to the Pacific). It’s also in the same family as blackbirds and Orioles.

western meadowlark
Courtesy Elisabeth Bickerton

North Dakota

Answer: Western Meadowlark

ohio

Ohio

Hint: Ohio shares a state bird with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Northern cardinal rests on a branch
Courtesy Michelle Summers

Ohio

Answer: Northern Cardinal

oklahoma

Oklahoma

Hint: This beautiful and graceful state bird is known for its scissor-tail.

An elegant Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) sitting on a wire.

Oklahoma

Answer: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

oregon

Oregon

Hint: You can often find this bird perched on fenceposts in grasslands.

Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) perched on a wooden post against a soft green background

Oregon

Answer: Western Meadowlark

pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Hint: This bird, sometimes called the partridge, thrives in severe winter weather.

Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, the state bird of Pennsylvania; upland game bird hunting

Pennsylvania

Answer: Ruffed Grouse

rhode-island

Rhode Island

Hint: This bird is actually pretty easy to guess because the state is in its name.

One young brown Rhode Island Red hen chicken portrait, bird posing in fresh grass at free range yard, red comb on head. Horizontal orientation, photo taken in Poland.

Rhode Island

Answer: Rhode Island Red

south-carolina

South Carolina

Hint: The state name is also in this bird’s name. This brownish-red bird has white stripes over the eyes.

Wrens feed a chick in a nest box
Courtesy Benjamin Cash

South Carolina

Answer: Carolina Wren

south-dakota

South Dakota

Hint: This beautiful state bird has iridescent feathers, a red face, and a white stripe around its neck.

Male Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus ) - Victoria BC, Canada

South Dakota

Answer: Ring-Necked Pheasant

tennessee

Tennessee

Hint: This songbird is another popular one. Do you know what it is?

Tennessee

Answer: Mockingbird

texas

Texas

Hint: Texas has the same state bird as Tennessee (and a few other states).

mockingbird
Courtesy Kathryn Smith

Texas

Answer: Mockingbird

utah

Utah

Hint: This heroic state bird helped to control the cricket population, which was ruining the crops in 1848.

California Gull (Larus californicus) Calling. Shoreline Lake, Santa Clara County, California, USA

Utah

Answer: California Gull

vermont

Vermont

Hint: This small brown bird has a lovely, melancholy song.

Singing Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) in spring migrant sitting in tree

Vermont

Answer: Hermit Thrush

virginia

Virginia

Hint: Virginia shares a state bird with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia.

cardinal eating sunflower seed
Courtesy Sarah Geiger

Virginia

Answer: Northern Cardinal

washington

Washington

Hint: The male species of this bird has a bright yellow body and black wings, the female species is more muted with an olive-yellow body and brown tail.

goldfinch eating nyjer seed
Courtesy Susan Ferency

Washington

Answer: American goldfinch

west-virginia

West Virginia

Hint: West Virginia has the same state bird as Virginia and five other states.

cardinal at a hopper feeder
Courtesy Stephanie Schick

West Virginia

Answer: Northern Cardinal

wisconsin

Wisconsin

Hint: Wisconsin shares a state bird with Connecticut and Michigan.

Robin splashes in a birdbath
Courtesy David Heilman

Wisconsin

Answer: American Robin

wyoming

Wyoming

Hint: The state bird of Wyoming is the same as Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Oregon.

Western Meadowlark Poised in the Sunshine

Wyoming

Answer: Western Meadowlark

Reader's Digest
Originally Published on Reader's Digest

Morgan Cutolo
Morgan is the Assistant Digital Managing Editor at Reader’s Digest. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2016 where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. When she’s not writing for rd.com or keeping the 650+ pieces of content our team produces every month organized, she likes watching HGTV, going on Target runs, and searching through Instagram to find new corgi accounts to follow.