Completely agree! They are so distinctive and I love seeing their scissor tails when they sit on wires. I am so glad it isn't some practically extinct bird that you would never actually see anywhere.

I love that Louisiana has the Brown Pelican. It fits the state.

Texas, btw, has so many State things it's funny. On a trip to Austin during residency, I went to the state capital and looked through a computer on display that lists such things as the State Modern Cooking Utensil, the State Flowering Shrub, the State Handgun and the State Long gun. It went on and on and on. We got a kick out of wondering who came up with all of them.

"Road Runner, if he catches you you're through."

Couldn't resist! Ha!

Love the Mississippi State Bird, the Mocking bird. All other States that have the Mockingbird should drop it for something else.

Cool bit of trivia; MysticCat! Thanks :)

I would contend that the state bird of Iowa should be the Eagle http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles
but when state bird naming was popular, they were probably so rare as to be extinct. This link, while not terribly exciting now is mesmerizing while you're waiting for the eggs to hatch. You will somehow kill hours watching an eagle protect her eggs.

I think it went, "Roadrunner, the coyote's after you; roadrunner, if he catches you, you're through!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMAVMgbNTJ8

I always thought Ohio had the cardinal as the state bird because it's red, and scarlet is one of OSU's colors. Though I guess if that's the case, the Scarlet Tanager would have been a great alternative. I see a nesting pair at work a few times a week. The males are gorgeous. Indigo buntings are nice, but... there's no Ohio connection there. I also like the Coopers Hawk, Barn Owl or Wood Duck or one of the teals for Ohio.

I agree with the Alabama proposed change because red-cockaded woodpeckers are very rare.
I also agree with his suggestions for CT, TN and KY, their warblers are the obvious choice, and Kirtlands Warbler the RAREST OF THEM ALL should def be repped by MI.
I think the Jersey state bird should be the Cape May warbler though. I like the Mississippi Kite for MS, and the Carolina Chickadee makes sense for NC.


I'm a birder. I can eat this shit up all damn day!

Except that the Carolina Chickadee is named for South Carolina.

So, uh, no.

Semantics. ;)

And Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and probably Michigan too.

And I would guess that they wouldn't name an eagle the official bird for any state, as the bald eagle is the national bird of the United States.

I second this. But you're right, probably just a houston thing.

You know who has this "Official State" crap right? The United Kingdom.

England: Lion
Scotland: Unicorn
Wales: Y Ddraig Goch (Welsh Dragon)


It kinda says "Eff you, birds of other nations".

Hahahahahaha!


No.