15 Florida State Bird Facts: Details On Official State Symbol Revealed
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The state symbols are a representation of a state and there are many symbols used to represent a state.
One such symbol is the state bird. Here we will have a look at the state bird of the USA's state Florida.
The state bird of Florida is the famous northern mockingbird, also known scientifically as Mimus Polyglottos.
Did you know that The state motto of Florida goes as ‘in god, we trust’?
These songbirds are a common sight in the United States. They are also the state bird of other states but one thing which makes them interesting is that contrary to popular myth, only unmated males sing at night.
What is so special about these birds? What makes them worthy of the title of the official state bird? are they just common or do they represent something greater?
Let us dive into the world of these songbirds and learn some facts about these northern mockingbirds. Afterward, also check France geography facts and Hawaii state flower facts.
History Of Florida State Bird
Every state will have state symbols associated with them. it could be the state motto, state flower, or state bird. Florida State is no exception to this. The Florida state bird has been the same throughout the years.
The official state bird of Florida is the northern mockingbird. The northern mockingbird was made the official state bird on April 23, 1927. The state official bird was adopted by the Florida senate concurrent resolution no.
three. The northern mockingbird is very famous, especially for its vocal abilities.
The body of the northern mockingbird has a light gray coat and also has white patches in its wings. The female mockingbirds have a darker shade in their tail feathers. The male northern mockingbird is bigger in size compared to the female mockingbirds.
This mocking bird is an omnivore and feeds on insects, winter berries. The diet mainly depends on the season that they are in. They are highly territorial mockingbirds with winter feeding territories and spring breeding territories. They breed during the spring annually. The eggs are pale blue-greenish in appearance.
The eggs hatch within 12-13 days. This superb songbird is not the state bird of just Florida. The northern mockingbird is the official state bird of Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. They are also a common mockingbird species seen in various regions of the United States.
Significance And Meaning Of Florida State Bird
The official state bird of the Florida state is special for the people of Florida. there might be a reason why this mockingbird is considered the official state bird? What makes this a distinct species from others? The answer is obvious, their beautiful melodies.
The northern mockingbirds are amazing songbirds that can sing beautiful melodies. The Florida state has made the state bird mockingbird and stated that the melodies by these northern mockingbirds had brought delight and peace into the residents of the Florida state and also the visitors who arrived at the Florida state from the past till this day.
This is exactly why the northern mockingbird deserves the title of the official state bird. The vocal abilities of the northern mockingbird are no joke. They can sing around 200 songs. These songs include songs of other birds and also sounds made by insects and amphibians.
They sing and also mimic which is a significant fact that is rare in songbirds. They are also common residents in the state of Florida. It also helps the residents of the state by feeding on insects and weed seeds.
You can find the family nest of these northern mockingbirds during the springtime. These birds are very important to the Florida state even before they were made the official state bird. So, it would come as no surprise as to why these birds were chosen for this title.
Why isn't the scrub jay the state bird of Florida?
Years after the northern mockingbird had the title of the Florida state bird, there have been requests to change Florida law by changing the official bird to scrub jay, but this has not happened yet.
The argument some had against the northern mockingbird was that it is not a bird worth honoring. Why is the scrub jay not the Florida state bird now even after the proposal to make it so?
Scrub jay cannot be the official bird of the state of Florida because it isn’t even a species, in a sense. It is one of the four distinct species of blue-jay bird. The scrub jay can't even sing. It is small and not so impressive in appearance either.
They are not even a common species in the state either. The habitat of the scrub jay is limited to some remote areas in Florida. On the other hand, the northern mockingbird is a common sight in Florida.
Everyone is familiar with this bird. most of the people in Florida might not even know of the scrub jay.
So, it doesn’t make sense to change the Florida state bird to scrub jay. The northern mockingbird is more common and also represents the Florida state well. Making a less seen bird species the Florida state bird doesn’t seem like the right thing to do so scrub-jay did not take up this title from the northern mockingbird.
Why is the Florida state bird so important?
The Florida state bird is an important and highly celebrated bird all around the world. The praise for this state bird is ever-flowing.
John James Audubon has high praise for this bird. The appearance, sweet song, and family loyalty of these birds are praised by him.
Also, the vocals of the northern mockingbird are represented in books too. Harper Lee, the famous author wrote a book named ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ which also serves as a reminder of the vocals of this bird.
The state bird also helps the residents of Florida in many ways. They eat insects and weed seeds which can cause problems for human beings.
They are also known for their high devotion to the family. These birds are territorial in nature even to dogs and cats when it comes to protecting their beloved family. The northern mockingbird is not just a songbird for Florida state.
It is the Florida state bird that represents the state as a whole. It is a symbol that reflects the state of Florida.
Making this bird part of the state symbol is a show of how important the bird is for the state. To this day, the northern mockingbird remains the Florida state bird and there is no chance of this changing anytime soon.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 15 Florida state bird facts: details on official state symbol revealed then why not take a look at 43 Switzerland culture facts that are extremely intriguing, or 7 facts about traditional Korean dance that are absolutely amazing?
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature
Akinwalere OlaleyeBachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature
As a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and energetic individual, Olaleye's expertise lies in administrative and management operations. With extensive knowledge as an Editor and Communications Analyst, Olaleye excels in editing, writing, and media relations. Her commitment to upholding professional ethics and driving organizational growth sets her apart. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Benin, Edo State.
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