Can You Guess the Official State Bird of All 50 States?
Updated: Jan. 25, 2024
Cardinals, robins, and wrens, oh my!
Alabama
Hint: This is a common species present year round in Alabama. You’ll also want to check out these hilarious bird photos.
Alabama
Answer: Northern Flicker
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
Answer: Willow Ptarmigan
Arizona
Hint: This white, brown, and black bird was officially adopted at the state bird in 1931. See if you can spot the animals camouflaged in these photos.
Arizona
Answer: Cactus Wren
Arkansas
Hint: This gray and white bird with an ear-catching tune also appears in the title of a very famous Harper Lee novel.
Arkansas
Answer: Northern Mockingbird
California
Hint: This state bird is known for being plump and small. It’s also a very prized game bird.
California
Answer: California Quail
Colorado
Hint: Colorado’s state bird is part of the sparrow family. It’s well known for its courtship dance and song.
Colorado
Answer: Lark Bunting
Connecticut
Hint: This bird is one of America’s favorite songbirds. It’s also in the name of a popular burger joint.
Connecticut
Answer: American Robin
Delaware
Hint: This state bird is actually a chicken. It’s also the mascot for the University of Delaware. These endangered baby animals are making a comeback.
Delaware
Answer: Blue Hen Chicken
Florida
Hint: Florida has the same state bird as Arkansas.
Florida
Answer: Mockingbird
Georgia
Hint: The governor declared this the state bird in 1935, it wasn’t publically recognized as the state bird until 1970.
Georgia
Answer: Brown Thrasher
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.
Hawaii
Answer: Nene
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.
Idaho
Answer: Mountain Bluebird
Illinois
Hint: This very popular red bird is also the state bird for six other states.
Illinois
Answer: Northern Cardinal
Indiana
Hint: Indiana’s state bird is one of the six other states that share a state bird with Illinois.
Indiana
Answer: Northern Cardinal
Iowa
Hint: The male species of this bird is very bright. They like to eat seeds from dandelions, sunflowers, ragweed, and evening primrose.
Iowa
Answer: American Goldfinch
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.
Kansas
Answer: Western Meadowlark
Kentucky
Hint: This bird is known for its “cheer cheer cheer,” “whit-chew whit-chew” and “purdy purdy purdy” whistles.
Kentucky
Answer: Northern Cardinal
Louisiana
Hint: If you know Louisiana’s nickname, you’ll know their state bird. It also appears on the state flag and seal.
Louisiana
Answer: Brown Pelican
Maine
Hint: This common backyard bird is a member of the titmouse family.
Maine
Answer: Black-Capped Chickadee
Maryland
Hint: Think about the name of the well-known baseball team from Baltimore.
Maryland
Answer: Baltimore Oriole
Massachusetts
Hint: Massachusetts shares a state bird with Maine.
Massachusetts
Answer: Black-Capped Chickadee
Michigan
Hint: These birds are often seen pulling up earthworms in your backyard. Check out these U.S. state facts that everyone gets wrong.
Michigan
Answer: American Robin
Minnesota
Hint: The state bird of Minnesota can be found in and around lakes. They are known for their eerie cries, wails, and yodels.
Minnesota
Answer: Common Loon
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.
Mississippi
Answer: Mockingbird
Missouri
Hint: This blue and reddish-orange bird has a short tail and chunky body.
Missouri
Answer: Eastern Bluebird
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.
Montana
Answer: Western Meadowlark
Nebraska
Hint: Nebraska’s state bird has a black and white striped head, yellow cheeks, and a bright yellow throat.
Nebraska
Answer: Western Meadowlark
Nevada
Hint: Nevada shares a state bird with Idaho.
Nevada
Answer: Mountain Bluebird
New Hampshire
Hint: The bird of this New England state has the color “purple” in its name.
New Hampshire
Answer: Purple Finch
New Jersey
Hint: This bird is also known as a wild canary or willow goldfinch.
New Jersey
Answer: American Goldfinch
New Mexico
Hint: New Mexico’s state bird is also a popular cartoon that runs really fast.
New Mexico
Answer: Greater Roadrunner
New York
Hint: New York shares a state bird with Missouri.
New York
Answer: Eastern Bluebird
North Carolina
Hint: The male species of this state bird is a brilliant red color.
North Carolina
Answer: Northern Cardinal
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.
North Dakota
Answer: Western Meadowlark
Ohio
Hint: Ohio shares a state bird with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Ohio
Answer: Northern Cardinal
Oklahoma
Hint: This beautiful and graceful state bird is known for its scissortail. See if you can spot the difference between these nearly identical animals.
Oklahoma
Answer: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Oregon
Hint: You can often find this bird perched on fenceposts in grasslands.
Oregon
Answer: Western Meadowlark
Pennsylvania
Hint: This bird, sometimes called the partridge, thrives in severe winter weather.
Pennsylvania
Answer: Ruffed Grouse
Rhode Island
Hint: This bird is actually pretty easy to guess because the state is in its name.
Rhode Island
Answer: Rhode Island Red
South Carolina
Hint: The state name is also in this bird’s name. This brownish-red bird has white stripes over the eyes.
South Carolina
Answer: Carolina Wren
South Dakota
Hint: This beautiful state bird has iridescent feathers, a red face, and a white stripe around its neck.
South Dakota
Answer: Ring-Necked Pheasant
Tennessee
Hint: This songbird is another popular one. Do you know what it is?
Tennessee
Answer: Mockingbird
Texas
Hint: Texas has the same state bird as Tennessee (and a few other states).
Texas
Answer: Mockingbird
Utah
Hint: This heroic state bird helped to control the cricket population, which was ruining the crops in 1848. In some states, it’s illegal to shoot the state bird. Check out these other strange laws in every state.
Utah
Answer: California Gull
Vermont
Hint: This small brown bird has a lovely, melancholy song.
Vermont
Answer: Hermit Thrush
Virginia
Hint: Virginia shares a state bird with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Virginia
Answer: Northern Cardinal
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.
Washington
Answer: American goldfinch
West Virginia
Hint: West Virginia has the same state bird as Virginia and five other states.
West Virginia
Answer: Northern Cardinal
Wisconsin
Hint: Wisconsin shares a state bird with Connecticut and Michigan.
Wisconsin
Answer: American Robin
Wyoming
Hint: The state bird of Wyoming is the same as Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Oregon.
Originally Published: December 21, 2018
