The Complete List of All 50 Official US State Birds (With Pictures!)

Every state of the United States has named at least one official state bird, along with Washington, D.C., and three of the five official U.S. territories. The most common state bird is the northern cardinal, chosen by seven states to represent them. The western meadowlark is close behind with six states, while the northern mockingbird rounds out the top three as the official symbol of five states. Additionally, several other birds are shared by two or more states; only 18 states boast a unique official state bird. In addition, multiple states have selected additional state birds, such as an official state raptor or state game bird. Below is the complete list!

Alabama: Yellowhammer (Northern Flicker) Colaptes auratus

Alabama named the “yellowhammer,” aka the northern flicker, as its official state bird in 1927.

State Game Bird: Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Alabama also elected the wild turkey as the official state game bird in 1980.

Alaska: Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus

Alaska named the willow ptarmigan as its official state bird in 1955.

Arizona: Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

Arizona named the cactus wren its official state bird in 1973.

Arkansas: Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

Arkansas designated the northern mockingbird its official state bird in 1929.

California: California Quail Callipepla californica

California named the California quail as its official state bird in 1931.

Colorado: Lark Bunting Calamospiza melanocorys

Colorado named the lark bunting as its official state bird in 1931.

Connecticut: American Robin Turdus migratorius

Connecticut named the American robin as its official state bird in 1943.

Delaware: Delaware Blue Hen Gallus domesticus (strain)

Delaware named the Delaware Blue Hen as its official state bird in 1939.

Florida: Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

Florida named the northern mockingbird as its official state bird in 1927.

Georgia: Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum

Georgia named the brown thrasher as its official state bird in 1928.

State Game Bird: Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)

Georgia also designated the bobwhite quail as its official state game bird in 1970.

Hawaii: Hawaiian Goose (Nēnē) Branta sandvicensis

Hawaii named the Hawaiian Goose, aka the Nēnē, as its official state bird in 1957.

Idaho: Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides

Idaho named the mountain bluebird as its official state bird in 1931.

State Raptor: Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Idaho also made the peregrine falcon its official state raptor in 2004.

Illinois: Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Illinois named the northern cardinal as its official state bird in 1929.

Indiana: Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Indiana named the northern cardinal as its official state bird in 1933.

Iowa: Eastern Goldfinch (American Goldfinch) Spinus tristis

Iowa named the “Eastern goldfinch,” aka American goldfinch, as its official state bird in 1933.

Kansas: Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta

Kansas named the western meadowlark as its official state bird in 1933.

Kentucky: Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Kentucky named the northern cardinal as its official state bird in 1926.

Louisiana: Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Louisiana named the brown pelican as its official state bird in 1966.

Maine: Chickadee (species not specified in state law); Black-Capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus and Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus

Maine named the “chickadee” as its official state bird in 1927. Since a species was never designated in the original legislation (and recent efforts to specify one failed), two native species share this honor: the black-capped chickadee and the boreal chickadee.

Maryland: Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula

Maryland named the Baltimore oriole as its official state bird in 1947.

Massachusetts: Black-Capped Chickadee Poecile atricapilla

Massachusetts named the black-capped chickadee as its official state bird in 1941. (Unlike Maine, they also made sure to specify the species.)

State Game Bird: Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Massachusetts also designated the wild turkey the official state game bird in 1991.

Michigan: American Robin Turdus migratorius

Michigan named the American robin as its official state bird in 1931.

Minnesota: Common Loon Gavia immer

Minnesota named the common loon as its official state bird in 1961.

Mississippi: Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

Mississippi named the northern mockingbird as its official state bird in 1944.

State Waterfowl: Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

Mississippi also designated the Wood Duck Aix sponsa as its official state waterfowl in 1974.

Missouri: Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis

Missouri named the eastern bluebird its official state bird in 1927.

State Game Bird: Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)

Missouri also designated the bobwhite quail as its official state game bird in 2007.

Montana: Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta

Montana named the western meadowlark as its official state bird in 1941.

Nebraska: Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta

Nebraska named the western meadowlark as its official state bird in 1929.

Nevada: Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides

Nevada named the mountain bluebird its official state bird in 1967.

New Hampshire: Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus

New Hampshire named the purple finch as its official state bird in 1957.

State Raptor: Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

New Hampshire also designated the red-tailed hawk its official state raptor in 2019.

New Jersey: Eastern Goldfinch (American Goldfinch) Spinus tristis

New Jersey designated the “eastern goldfinch,” aka the American goldfinch, as its official state bird in 1935.

New Mexico: Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus

New Mexico named the greater roadrunner as its official state bird in 1949.

New York: Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis

New York named the eastern bluebird as its official state bird in 1970.

North Carolina: Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

North Carolina named the northern cardinal as its official state bird in 1943.

North Dakota: Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta

North Dakota named the western meadowlark as its official state bird in 1970.

Ohio: Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Ohio named the northern cardinal as its official state bird in 1933.

Oklahoma: Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus

Oklahoma named the scissor-tailed flycatcher as its official state bird in 1951.

State Game Bird: Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Oklahoma also designated the wild turkey its official state game bird in 1990.

Oregon: Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta (state songbird)

Oregon originally proclaimed the western meadowlark as its official state bird in 1927. In 2017, this designation was retitled to official state songbird.

State Raptor: Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Oregon also designated the osprey its official state raptor in 2017.

Pennsylvania: Ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus (state game bird)

Pennsylvania named the ruffed grouse as its official state game bird in 1931. While the state has never officially designated just an official “state bird,” the ruffed grouse is considered the de facto official state bird by Pennsylvanians and is referred to as such on the official Commonwealth of PA State Symbols page.

Rhode Island: Rhode Island Red Gallus domesticus (breed)

Rhode Island named the Rhode Island Red as its official state bird in 1954.

South Carolina: Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus

South Carolina named the Carolina wren as its official state bird in 1948. It took the place of the northern mockingbird, which was previously designated in 1939.

State Game Bird: Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

South Carolina also designated the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) its official state wild game bird in 1976.

State Duck: Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

South Carolina became the only state with three official birds after naming the wood duck its official state duck in 2009.

South Dakota: Ring-Necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

South Dakota named the ring-necked pheasant as its official state bird in 1943.

Tennessee: Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

Tennessee named the northern mockingbird as its official state bird in 1933.

State Game Bird: Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)

Tennessee also designated the bobwhite quail its official state wild game bird in 1987.

Texas: Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

Texas named the northern mockingbird as its official state bird in 1927.

Utah: Sea Gull (California Gull) Larus californicus

Utah named the “seagull,” now recognized as the California gull, as its official state bird in 1955.

Vermont: Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus

Vermont named the hermit thrush as its official state bird in 1941.

Virginia: Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Virginia named the northern cardinal as its official state bird in 1950.

Washington: Willow Goldfinch (American Goldfinch) Spinus tristis

Washington named the “willow goldfinch,” aka the American goldfinch, as its official state bird in 1951.

West Virginia: Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

West Virginia named the northern cardinal as its official state bird in 1949.

Wisconsin: American Robin Turdus migratorius

Wisconsin named the American robin as its official state bird in 1949.

State Symbol of Peace: Eastern Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura carolinensis)

Wisconsin also designated the eastern mourning dove its official state symbol of peace in 1971.

Wyoming: Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta

Wyoming named the western meadowlark as its official state bird in 1927.

Washington, District of Columbia’s Official Bird: Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina

Washington, D.C., designated the wood thrush as its official bird in 1938.

Official Birds of U.S. Territories

American Samoa: None

American Samoa has not yet named an official bird.

Northern Mariana Islands: Mariana Fruit Dove (Mwee’mwe) Ptilinopus roseicapilla

The Northern Mariana Islands claims the Mariana fruit dove as its official bird.

Guam: Guam Rail (Ko’ko’) Gallirallus owstoni

Guam named the Guam rail (ko’ko’) as its official bird in 2000.

Puerto Rico: None

Puerto Rico has not yet named an official bird.

U.S Virgin Islands: Bananaquit Coereba flaveola

The U.S. Virgin Islands named the bananaquit its official bird in 1970.

National Bird of the United States: Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Last but certainly not least, the United States also has a national bird, the bald eagle, adopted in 1782.

Summary of The Complete List of All 50 Official US State Birds (Including Washington, D.C. and U.S. Territories)

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Bonnie Taylor Barry/Shutterstock.com