Which bird is the state bird of seven US states?

The northern cardinal is the state bird of seven U.S. states. Those states are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia, making the cardinal the most widely shared state bird in the United States.

The species, Cardinalis cardinalis, is a familiar songbird of woodlands, shrublands, wetlands, gardens, and suburban areas. Adult males are bright red with a black facial mask, while females are reddish olive with a more subdued pattern. Both sexes have a prominent crest and a reddish-orange bill.

In state-symbol lists, the official name is often shortened to simply “cardinal,” but the bird meant is the northern cardinal. It is not the American goldfinch, robin, or blue jay, all of which are state birds in some places or appear in state symbolism. The cardinal’s broad range and recognizable appearance helped make it a popular choice.

The bird was first selected as a state bird by Illinois in 1929, followed soon afterward by several other states. It is also a popular sports mascot, including for the St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Cardinals, though those teams’ logos are stylized representations rather than official state symbols.