Which bird is the state bird of Texas?

The northern mockingbird is the state bird of Texas.

Texas adopted the northern mockingbird in 1927, during a nationwide movement in which states selected official birds. The species was a natural choice because it is widespread across Texas, adapts well to towns and farms, and is famous for its varied, persistent song. A mockingbird may imitate other birds, insects and even mechanical sounds, sometimes repeating a phrase several times before switching to another.

The bird is not unique to Texas. Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and several other states also recognize the northern mockingbird as a state bird, making it one of the most widely shared state-bird choices in the United States. The northern cardinal is even more widely represented, but it is not Texas’s official bird.

A common mix-up is the scissor-tailed flycatcher, another conspicuous Texas bird. It is Oklahoma’s state bird, while the northern mockingbird represents Texas. The species’ scientific name is Mimus polyglottos, roughly reflecting its reputation as a “many-tongued” imitator.