Florida State Bird: Northern Mockingbird
Fact-checked • Updated November 24, 2025
Florida State Bird – Northern Mockingbird
Florida designated the Northern Mockingbird as its state bird on April 23, 1927 through a concurrent resolution of the legislature. The species occurs in every Florida county through the year. Adults produce varied calls drawn from nearby sounds. Florida shares this bird with Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.
Why Florida Chose the Northern Mockingbird
Florida selected the Northern Mockingbird on April 23, 1927. The Florida Federation of Women's Clubs promoted the idea of choosing an official state bird, encouraging early adoption before neighboring states made their selections.
Mockingbirds were favored because they lived in all 67 Florida counties. Farmers appreciated mockingbirds for eating insects that damaged crops, including beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars in citrus groves.
Newspaper polls and garden club surveys showed strong public support for the mockingbird. Its year-round presence and recognizable song made it a natural choice.
The Florida Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 3 without opposition, making the mockingbird Florida’s first official state symbol.
Timeline: How the Mockingbird Became Florida's Bird
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1926 — Women's Clubs Start Campaign
The Florida Federation of Women's Clubs encouraged choosing a state bird. Mrs. Katherine Tippetts of St. Petersburg helped coordinate early public interest.
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Early 1927 — Public Vote
Florida newspapers printed informal ballots. Readers voted among several birds, including the mockingbird, flamingo, and brown pelican. The mockingbird received the most consistent support across the state.
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April 23, 1927 — Official Adoption
The Florida Legislature approved Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 3 designating the Northern Mockingbird as the state bird. The resolution cited the bird’s widespread presence and agricultural benefits.
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1920s–1930s — Protection Laws
Florida enacted laws protecting mockingbirds from hunting and capture. Penalties reflected the bird’s cultural value and its role in controlling insects.
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Modern Status
Mockingbirds remain abundant in Florida. They thrive in both natural and developed landscapes and continue to be one of the state’s most recognizable birds.
What the Mockingbird Means to Florida
Voice of Early Mornings
Mockingbirds sing early before sunrise across Florida. Their varied songs make them a familiar sound in cities and suburbs.
Agricultural Partner
The bird symbolizes Florida’s farming heritage. Mockingbirds help reduce insect pests in orchards, gardens, and farms.
Adaptation Symbol
Mockingbirds adapt well to Florida’s growth. They nest in palms, hedges, and residential landscaping, thriving in human-modified environments.
Cultural Icon
Mockingbirds appear on murals, conservation materials, and school mascots. The bird is a long-standing symbol in Florida public life.
How to Identify Florida's Mockingbird
Adult Birds
Gray body with darker wings, long tail, and bright white wing patches visible in flight. Yellow eyes and slender bill.
Young Mockingbirds
Spotted breast and darker gray feathers. Juveniles develop yellow eyes as they mature.
Flight Pattern
White wing patches flash during flight. Birds fly in straight lines between perches with steady wingbeats.
Mockingbird Behavior in Florida
The Famous Song Repertoire
Mockingbirds can mimic more than 200 sounds. They learn new songs throughout life, copying other birds, insects, and human-made noises.
Night Singing
Unpaired males may sing through the night in spring to attract mates. Urban lighting sometimes triggers extended nocturnal singing.
Territory Defense
Mockingbirds aggressively defend nests. They dive at predators, including cats and birds of prey, and occasionally challenge humans who approach too closely.
Feeding Habits
Summer diet includes insects; winter diet shifts to berries such as holly, palm fruits, and beautyberries. Mockingbirds often hunt by hopping and running across lawns.
Where to Find Mockingbirds in Florida
Common Locations
Mockingbirds occur in every Florida county. They nest in palms, hedges, citrus groves, and landscaped urban areas.
Population Status
Mockingbird populations in Florida are stable. Urban expansion created new nesting sites in residential plantings and parks.
Best Viewing Spots
- Everglades National Park visitor centers
- Orange groves near Lakeland
- Suburban neighborhoods statewide
- University of Florida campus in Gainesville
- Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami
Mockingbird Facts That Surprise Floridians
Fact 1 of 7
Mockingbirds learn new sounds throughout their lives.
Northern Mockingbird Songs & Calls
Hear the clear whistles and sharp calls of the Northern Mockingbird. These field recordings capture their distinctive voice in natural habitat.
Audio licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Also the State Bird of:
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records and scientific databases.
Official Florida record of state bird designation. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Species information and identification guide. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Overview of behavior, range, and state symbol status. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
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