Each of the 50 states has an officially designated state bird, often chosen because of its beauty, uniqueness to the state or significance to state history. These symbolically chosen birds are often used on flags, statues and other items, and they are popular choices for professional sports teams and school mascots.

In addition to one official state bird, several states have designated an official game bird: the wild turkey is the most popular choice.

Mississippi is the only state to have an official state waterfowl, the wood duck.

While most of the state birds listed below have been the symbols of their respective states for decades, there are occasional suggestions to change state birds, most often in favor of selecting a more unique bird. The northern cardinal, for example, is the most popular state bird with seven states, followed by the western meadowlark in six states and the northern mockingbird in five.

List of State Birds

Names in parentheses are alternative common names for the same bird species.

• Alabama: Yellowhammer (Northern Flicker or Golden-winged Woodpecker)
• Alaska: Willow Ptarmigan
• Arizona: Cactus Wren
• Arkansas: Northern Mockingbird
• California: California Quail
• Colorado: Lark Bunting
• Connecticut: American Robin
• Delaware: Blue Hen Chicken
• Florida: Northern Mockingbird
• Georgia: Brown Thrasher
• Hawai’i: Nene (Hawaiian Goose)
• Idaho: Mountain Bluebird
• Illinois: Northern Cardinal
• Indiana: Northern Cardinal
• Iowa: Eastern Goldfinch (American Goldfinch)

• Kansas: Western Meadowlark
• Kentucky: Northern Cardinal
• Louisiana: Eastern Brown Pelican
• Maine: Black-capped Chickadee
• Maryland: Baltimore Oriole
• Massachusetts: Black-capped Chickadee
• Michigan: American Robin
• Minnesota: Common Loon
• Mississippi: Northern Mockingbird
• Missouri: Eastern Bluebird
• Montana: Western Meadowlark
• Nebraska: Western Meadowlark
• Nevada: Mountain Bluebird
• New Hampshire: Purple Finch
• New Jersey: Eastern Goldfinch (American Goldfinch)
• New Mexico: Greater Roadrunner
• New York: Eastern Bluebird
• North Carolina: Northern Cardinal
• North Dakota: Western Meadowlark
• Ohio: Northern Cardinal
• Oklahoma: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
• Oregon: Western Meadowlark
• Pennsylvania: Ruffed Grouse
• Rhode Island: Rhode Island Red Chicken
• South Carolina: Carolina Wren
• South Dakota: Ring-necked Pheasant
• Tennessee: Northern Mockingbird
• Texas: Northern Mockingbird
• Utah: California Gull
• Vermont: Hermit Thrush
• Virginia: Northern Cardinal
• Washington: Willow Goldfinch (American Goldfinch)
• West Virginia: Northern Cardinal
• Wisconsin: American Robin
• Wyoming: Western Meadowlark

Want to learn more? Check out the photo gallery of all 50 state birds, including when and why each state selected its avian ambassador!

Photo – Northern Cardinal © Larry Hennessy