Symbols are used to communicate many different ideas. The use of symbols dates far back and can be found throughout the Bible.
Animals and birds are popularly used as symbols to represent areas of importance. As State symbols, animals and birds representative of each State have special meaning for that State.
In 1926, Kentucky was the first State to select a bird symbol. Other States followed, selecting their choices through state legislative acts, gubernatorial proclamation or tradition.
In the 1920s, groups such as the Audubon Society and conservation organizations along with school children worked together to nominate their favorites.
Selections are often made of endangered species in order to protect them. Animals and birds are also selected because they are indigenous to that State or have historic or economic value.
As you will see, many States have chosen the same symbols.
ALABAMA
State Horse – Racking Horse
State Mammal – Black Bear
State Bird – Yellow Hammer
ALASKA
State Land Mammal – Moose
State Marine Mammal – Bowhead Whale
State Dog – Alaskan Malamute
State Bird – Willow Ptarmigan
ARIZONA
State Mammal – Ringtailed Cat
State Bird – Cactus Wren
ARKANSAS
State Mammal – White-tailed Deer
State Bird – Mockingbird
CALIFORNIA
State Animal – Grizzly Bear
State Marine Mammal – Gray Whale
State Bird – California Valley Quail
COLORADO
State Animal – Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
State Bird – Lark Bunting
CONNECTICUT
State Animal – Sperm Whale
State Bird – Robin
DELAWARE
State Marine Mammal – Horseshoe Crab
State Bird – Blue Hen Chicken
FLORIDA
State Animal – Florida Panther
State Marine Mammal – Manatee
State Saltwater Mammal – Dolphin
State Bird – Mockingbird
GEORGIA
State Marine Mammal – Right Whale
State Bird – Brown Thrasher
HAWAII
State Mammal – Hawaiian Monk Seal
State Marine Mammal – Humpback Whale
State Bird – Nene
IDAHO
State Horse – Appaloosa
State Bird – Mountain Bluebird
ILLINOIS
State Animal – White-tailed Deer
State Bird – Cardinal
INDIANA
State Bird – Cardinal
IOWA
State Bird – Eastern Goldfinch
KANSAS
State Animal – American Bison
State Bird – Western Meadowlark
KENTUCKY
State Wild Game Animal – Gray Squirrel
State Horse – Thoroughbred
State Dog – Dachshund
LOUISIANA
State Dog – Catahoula Leopard Dog
State Mammal – Black Bear
State Bird – Eastern Brown Pelican
MAINE
State Cat – Maine Coon Cat
State Bird – Chickadee
MARYLAND
State Cat – Calico Cat
State Dog – Chesapeake Bay Retriever
State Horse – Thoroughbred
State Bird – Baltimore Oriole
MASSACHUSETTS
State Dog – Boston Terrier
State Cat – Tabby Cat (Chosen in 1988 as the state cat mascot by school children)
State Horse – Morgan Horse
State Marine Mammal – Right Whale
State Bird – Chickadee
MICHIGAN
State Game Animal – White-tailed Deer
State Bird – Robin
MINNESOTA
State Bird – Common Loon
MISSISSIPPI
State Land Animals – White-tailed Deer and Red Fox
State Water Mammal – Bottle-nosed Dolphin
State Bird – Mockingbird
MISSOURI
State Animal – Missouri Mule
State Aquaric Animal – Paddlefish
State Horse – Missouri Fox-trotting Horse
State Bird – Bluebird
MONTANA
State Animal – Grizzly Bear
State Bird – Western Meadowlark
NEBRASKA
State Animal – White-tailed Deer
State Bird – Western Meadowlark
NEVADA
State Animal – Desert Big-horned Sheep
State Bird – Mountain Bluebird
NEW HAMPSHIRE
State Animal – White-tailed Deer
State Dog – Chinook
State Bird – Purple Finch
NEW JERSEY
State Animal – Horse
State Bird – Eastern Goldfinch
NEW MEXICO
State Animals – Jaguar, Black Bear
State Bird – Roadrunner
NEW YORK
State Animal – Beaver
State Bird – Bluebird
NORTH CAROLINA
State Dog – Plott Hound
State Mammal – Grey Squirrel
State Bird – Cardinal
NORTH DAKOTA
Honorary Equine – Nokota Horse
State Bird – Western Meadowlark
OHIO
State Animal – White-tailed Deer
State Bird – Cardinal
OKLAHOMA
State Animal – Buffalo
State Game Animal – White-tailed Deer
State Furbearer Animal – Raccoon
State Flying Mammal – Mexican Free-tailed Bat
State Bird – Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
OREGON
State Animal – Beaver
State Bird – Western Meadowlark
PENNSYLVANIA
State Animal – White-tailed Deer
State Dog – Great Dane
State Bird – Ruffed Grouse
RHODE ISLAND
State Bird – Rhode Island Red
SOUTH CAROLINA
State Animal – White-tailed Deer
State Dog – Boykin Spaniel
State Bird – Great Carolina Wren
SOUTH DAKOTA
State Animal – Coyote
State Bird – Ring-necked Pheasant
TENNESSEE
State Wild Animal – Raccoon
State Horse – Tennessee Walking Horse
State Bird – Mockingbird
TEXAS
State Dog – Blue Lacy
State Flying Mammal – Mexican Free-tailed Bat
State Large Mammal – Texas Longhorn
State Small Mammal – 9-banded Armadillo
UTAH
State Animal – Rocky Mountain Elk
State Bird – Common American Gull
VERMONT
State Horse – Morgan Horse
State American Fossil – White (Beluga) Whale
State Bird – Hermit Thrush
VIRGINIA
State Bat – Virginia Big-eared Bat
State Dog – American Foxhound
State Bird – Cardinal
WASHINGTON
State Marine Mammal – Orca Whale
State Bird – Willow Goldfinch
WEST VIRGINIA
State Animals – Black Bear, Virginia Oppossum
State Bird – Cardinal
WISCONSIN
State Animal – Badger
State Domestic Animal – Dairy Cow
State Wild Animal – White-tailed Deer
State Dog – American Water Spaniel
State Bird – Robin
WYOMING
State Mammal – Buffalo
State Bird – Western Meadowlark
The Horseshoe Crab and the Paddlefish are not mammals, but are designated by Delaware and Missouri as official State Animals.
