Not only did these seven states adopt the same bird, Cardinalis cardinalis, the seven also form an interconnected block of states, each sharing borders with at least one of the other six.
Official State Birds of the 50 United States
Delaware became the first state to ratify the constitution on December 7, 1787, but it took 139 years before any state named an official state bird. That first state was Kentucky, which adopted the Northern Cardinal on February 26, 1926. The Cardinal proved to be a popular state bird, with 6 other states also naming it during the following 24 years. Kentucky happens to border five of those six states, and isn't far from the sixth, North Carolina. Maybe Kentucky's choice influenced the others, but the colorful and cheerful Cardinal likely was just as favored in those states. The last state to choose the Cardinal was Virginia, which adopted it on January 25, 1950, nearly a year after West Virginia made the same selection.
Although it would seem more consistent with states' individualism to pick birds unnamed by other states, in fact, more states duplicate other choices than choose unique birds. Only 20 states adopted birds that were not chosen by other states. The second most popular choice is the Western Meadowlark, selected by six states. In third place is the Northern Mockingbird, named by five states. Three states chose the American Robin and three named the American Goldfinch. The Mountain Bluebird, the Eastern Bluebird and the Black-capped Chickadee were each selected by two states. The Black-capped Chickadee also happens to be the only U.S. state bird adopted by a Canadian province, New Brunswick.
The Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis Cardinalis, is regularly found in all but 11 of the United States, and has expanded its territory further north as the use of home feeders has grown. Cardinals also thrive throughout Hawaii, where it was introduced. Aptly named after the red-robed Catholic officials, male cardinals are bright red overall, with a red crest, black face and a stout red-orange bill. Diet includes insects, fruit and seeds, and sunflower seed feeders are effective in attracting cardinals to home yards. Cardinals essentially are monogamous, and are not migratory. Eggs (3-4) incubate in about 12 days, and the altricial young fledge in about 10 days. Juvenile birds are identified by black bills.
A member of the family Cardinalidae, which includes grosbeaks and buntings, Northern Cardinals share the genus Cardinalis only with Pyrrhuloxia, a similar bird with a very limited U.S. range. Cardinals are fairly long-lived birds. Maximum longevity of wild cardinals is recorded at more than 15 years, and captive birds have lived as long as 22 years.
The Most Popular State Bird Choice
Northern Cardinals are colorful, home feeder-friendly and widespread throughout the United States. Their song, sung by both males and females, is clear and melodious, and it is not difficult to understand why seven states would choose the Cardinal as their official bird.
For information about other official state birds, see the following articles:
- The Second Most Popular State Bird, the Western Meadowlark
- The Northern Mockingbird, Third Most Popular State Bird
- The American Robin, State Bird of Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin
- The Black-capped Chickadee, State Bird of Maine and Massachusetts
- The Greater Roadrunner, New Mexico's State Bird
- The Cactus Wren, State Bird of Arizona
- Oklahoma's State Bird, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
- The Purple Finch, State Bird of the Granite State, New Hampshire
Bob Bowers - A lifelong naturalist and amateur ornithologist, Bob's avocation is studying, photographing and writing about birds.
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