Legislation Proposed to Designate Flamingo as Florida’s State Bird

ORLANDO, Fla. – Move over mockingbird. Florida lawmakers are once again looking to give the state bird title of Florida a more unique flare.

On Friday, Rep. Jim Mooney, R-Islamorada, introduced a proposal (HB 81) for the 2025 legislative session. The proposal suggests naming the American flamingo as the official state bird and the Florida scrub-jay as the official state songbird.

The mockingbird, known for its gray-and-white appearance and revered in literature and music, has held the title of Florida’s state bird since 1927. Interestingly, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas have also chosen the mockingbird as their state bird.

Recent legislative sessions have seen multiple attempts by Florida lawmakers to replace the mockingbird with other bird species like the osprey, wood stork, and the white ibis, all of which have been considered for the position.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, American flamingos are typically seen in the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, and the Florida Keys. However, Florida saw an uptick in sightings in 2023, as the bright pink birds were likely carried in by Hurricane Idalia and scattered throughout the state.

As for the scrub-jay, the bird species is only found in Florida.

The 2025 Florida legislative session begins March 4.