# How often do you see your state bird? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 26, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324 "2017-04-26T21:14:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/61 "2017-04-27T13:13:22Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > And West Virginia and North Carolina. > > If I were in charge of such things, I’d change Illinois’ to the red-winged blackbird. Not that it’s unique to IL but neither is the cardinal. And, unlike the cardinal, no other state uses it as their bird. Plus, I just like 'em. So do I. I always felt that the red-winged blackbird would be a wonderful state bird wherever they occur. But economic powers that be consider them a nuisance. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/62 "2017-04-27T13:17:58Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > Out of idle curiosity I looked on Wikipedia for a list of US state birds. I notice that in addition to having a state bird, several states have a state _game bird_, but Mississippi seems to stand alone in having a state _waterfowl_ (Wood duck). > > Anyone have any idea why Mississippi decided to do this? Politics. Some state legislator had a personal interest in it, and got the bill before the house, and scratched somebody else’s back by co-sponsoring their quirky bill, and it was a done deal. Some states have a state fossil, or a state pie, or a state musical instrument or a state barbed wire. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/63 "2017-04-27T13:23:05Z")
Texas, mockingbird. They are out there almost every day, mocking me. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/64 "2017-04-27T13:23:36Z")
I’ve never seen an oriole. We have a couple of pairs of cardinals around the house. The female of one pair is in constant warfare with our windows. We also get a ton of purple finches at our bird feeder. We should do a bird exchange program! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/65 "2017-04-27T13:59:52Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’ve never seen an Oriole. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > I’ve never seen an oriole. Funny I just realized I unconsciously capitalize “Oriole” by default, because the only context I’ve ever seen the word is in relation to the MLB team. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/66 "2017-04-27T14:07:45Z")
Massachusetts - black capped chickadee are tiny, but I used to see them all the time when I had a bird feeder. The state game bird is the wild turkey. I literally had to stop my car to let one cross the street on my way to work today. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/67 "2017-04-27T14:08:26Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Purple finch – I don’t think I’ve seen one yet. > [@DCnDC](#): > > I’ve never seen an Oriole. > [@Jophiel](#): > > We have one that lives outside our office. Each day it spends hours banging against the window, presumably seeing its reflection or something. We’ve tried putting things in the bushes to scare it off, hanging pictures in the window, moving things behind the window, etc. The other day our VP remarked “Every morning, he wakes up, comes to the office and bangs his head for eight hours. He ought to be our mascot.” 😛 > [@P-man](#): > > I’ve seen one in 18 years. > [@DCnDC](#): > > Funny I just realized I unconsciously capitalize “Oriole” by default, because the only context I’ve ever seen the word is in relation to the MLB team. 🙂 I’ve seen many Orioles. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/68 "2017-04-27T14:18:48Z")
I see an oriole every few years. When I see one, I quickly cut up some oranges for them, hoping they’ll stick around a bit. Never works. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/69 "2017-04-27T14:19:09Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > 🙂 > > I’ve seen many Orioles. 😃 I’m not sure how I ended up with all of those quotes in there. I am out of control! ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/70 "2017-04-27T15:12:37Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > IN, OH, KY and IL all have the cardinal for a state bird. How original! We like the flashiness. We’re easy to please. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/71 "2017-04-27T15:21:27Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > Out of idle curiosity I looked on Wikipedia for a list of US state birds. I notice that in addition to having a state bird, several states have a state _game bird_, but Mississippi seems to stand alone in having a state _waterfowl_ (Wood duck). > > Anyone have any idea why Mississippi decided to do this? I think some of the “Official State oddities” are school projects and they petition the governor to declare it. Makes for good political press. Various states have official dances, snacks, dogs, soft drinks, toys, etc. Maryland has an official state exercise. Walking. Ohio, sticking with red symbols, has tomato juice as the official beverage. We do grow a lot of tomatoes. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/72 "2017-04-27T15:31:51Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I’m in suburban Chicago, in an area with a lot of trees and forest preserves. I’d guess I see cardinals in my yard, or in the neighborhood, at least once or twice a week. Yeah, here in the city, in the Midway area, they’re more of a rare treat. I remember as a kid getting all excited when I’d spot one in the backyard. The more typical dime-a-dozen birds here are in rough order of commonness: sparrows, crows, robins, pigeons, seagulls (yep, they manage to find themselves here five miles in from Lake Michigan attracted to the parking lots of grocery and department stores, it seems.) Even more exciting is spotting a blue jay. I think I may have seen one or two in the woods in the southwest suburbs, but that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/73 "2017-04-27T16:05:22Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’ve never seen an Oriole. Interstingly, I see them fairly often. Quite noticable. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/74 "2017-04-27T16:16:03Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > 🙂 > > I’ve seen many Orioles. 😃 I’ve seen Orioles at Camden yards but I grew up in Maryland and never saw an oriole. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/75 "2017-04-27T16:30:54Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’ve seen Orioles at Camden yards but I grew up in Maryland and never saw an oriole. I’ve seen them in and near Havre de Grace growing up, and rather more often up the road a bit in New Castle County, DE. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/76 "2017-04-27T16:38:47Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Even more exciting is spotting a blue jay. I think I may have seen one or two in the woods in the southwest suburbs, but that’s it. Growing up in Woodridge, I’d see them in the backyard on a semi-regular basis. Often enough to say “ooh, neat” but not “Holy shit, a blue jay!” I’m out by Plainfield now and haven’t seen one in probably a decade if not longer. I actually looked once to see if they were threatened or anything but nope. Just not in my neighborhood these days. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/77 "2017-04-27T16:42:16Z")
Texas, here. I see mockingbirds every day. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/78 "2017-04-27T16:42:18Z")
We have blue jays that live in the Japanese maple tree in the front yard. They hang around and eat the cat food we put out for the feral cat that hangs around the house. I’m certain it’s not good for them (the birds), but I can’t really stop them. ---
**Author:** ![Nauplius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nauplius/32/51_2.png) [@Nauplius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nauplius)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/79 "2017-04-27T16:57:58Z")
Here in Iowa, “the Hawkeye State”, the state bird is of course the…eastern goldfinch. I see them almost never. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324/80 "2017-04-27T17:06:21Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > I have been hearing our state (GA) game bird each morning for a week now. It’s a bobwhite. I guess it could be an overachieving mockingbird, however. I had to look up our regular state bird. I kinda thought it was the mockingbird, but it’s the brown thrasher. I’m not sure, but I think I saw one of of those yesterday. Today I have seen cardinals, bluebirds, and pileated woodpeckers. Also a Georgian, I see a Brown Thrasher fairly often in my yard. Quail, on the other hand, I can see by looking in my freezer. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-see-your-state-bird/785324.md?page=5)