NATURE NOTES: Northern mockingbird represents Texas

CELESTE SILLING Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
Apr 1, 2023
Apr 1, 2023
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NATURE NOTES: State Birds: How were they elected? — Buy Now

The northern mockingbird is the state bird of five states, including Texas.
MIKE WILLIAMS/Contributed photo

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It’s common knowledge that each U.S. state has an official bird. But do you know how each of these birds were chosen?

The tradition originated in the 1920s when the General Federation of Women’s Clubs decided to assign a state bird to each state. Of course, it would be up to each state to pick their own bird for their own reasons. Texas was one of the first states to jump on this idea and elect our own state bird.

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Celeste Silling is Education and Outreach Manager at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. For information, visit gcbo.org.

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