Fla.’s State Bird May Be Booted From Its Nest After 99 Years

Florida lawmakers are debating a colorful change this legislative session: replacing the northern mockingbird with the flamingo as the state’s official bird.

State Rep. Jim Mooney, a Republican from the Florida Keys, is spearheading the effort—and embracing the theme. He has been spotted wearing flamingo-patterned ties and lapel pins while promoting a bill that would remove the mockingbird, Florida’s state bird since 1927, and designate the American flamingo in its place. To soften opposition, the proposal would also name the Florida scrub jay as the official state songbird, according to the Washington Post.

Mooney argues that the flamingo is already deeply woven into Florida’s identity, pointing to its presence on state lottery tickets and in popular imagery. Supporters say the designation could also bring practical benefits, including increased funding for research and conservation.

Although flamingos are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, conservationists want stronger protections, noting that plume hunting and habitat destruction once nearly wiped them out in Florida. A recent University of Central Florida study concluded that flamingos are native to the state and “genetically fit for restoration.” Audubon Florida reports that more than 100 flamingos that arrived during Hurricane Idalia in 2023 have remained in Florida, with sightings increasing in the Everglades and Florida Bay.

Those developments have strengthened Mooney’s argument that long-term restoration projects are paying off. Still, the proposal has reopened a long-running debate over the Florida scrub jay, a bird championed by educators and environmental groups but criticized by some property rights advocates and developers because of land-use restrictions tied to its habitat. The scrub jay also has a vocal opponent in longtime NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer, who has disparaged the species while defending the mockingbird as a superior singer and parent. The mockingbird is currently the state bird of four states.

Audubon Florida CEO Julie Wraithmell has declined to take sides, saying she hopes the debate draws attention—and resources—to all three species. “We don’t choose between our kids,” she said.

Mooney, meanwhile, says the proposal is about more than symbolism. “We seldom have bills that make you feel good,” he said, adding that the flamingos’ return shows that Florida’s environmental restoration efforts are producing real results.

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