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50 free State Birds trivia questions with answers — geography quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
Seven states share the northern cardinal, six share the western meadowlark, two picked a breed of chicken, and one state never got around to choosing a bird at all. This quiz covers all 50 state birds plus the District of Columbia and the territories: the famous ones (New Mexico's roadrunner, Minnesota's loon, Hawaii's nene), the ones that get confused (eastern vs mountain bluebird, eastern vs willow goldfinch), the first and last states to adopt one, and the bonus titles some states hand out for game birds, raptors and waterfowl. Good for classrooms, road trips and anyone who has ever wondered why Utah's bird is named after California.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01Which bird is the official state bird of Hawaii?
Nene
Also called the Hawaiian goose, it was adopted in 1957 and is found nowhere else in the wild.
Q 02New Mexico's state bird is which famously fast desert runner?
Greater roadrunner
Adopted in 1949. Its scientific name, Geococcyx californianus, literally means 'Californian earth-cuckoo'.
Q 03Which state chose the scissor-tailed flycatcher as its state bird in 1951?
Oklahoma
The bird's forked tail can be longer than its body. It also appears on Oklahoma's state quarter.
Q 04Minnesota's state bird, adopted in 1961, is which water bird?
Common loon
Its eerie call is a soundtrack of northern lakes. The loon also appears on Canada's one-dollar 'loonie' coin.
Q 05Which state adopted the eastern brown pelican as its state bird in 1966?
Louisiana
Louisiana's nickname is the Pelican State, and the bird appears on its flag feeding its young.
Q 06Utah's state bird is a gull named after which other state?
California
Mormon lore credits flocks of gulls with devouring a cricket plague that threatened the 1848 harvest.
Q 07Delaware's official state bird is which domestic animal?
Blue Hen Chicken
Adopted in 1939, it honors a Revolutionary War regiment nicknamed the Blue Hen's Chickens. It is also the University of Delaware's mascot.
Q 08Which state's official bird is a red-feathered breed of domestic chicken?
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Red was developed in the state in the 1800s and became the state bird in 1954.
Q 09Arizona's state bird, adopted in 1931, is which species?
Cactus wren
It is the largest wren in the United States and often nests inside cholla cactus.
Q 10Which state chose a quail as its official bird in 1931?
California
The California quail is recognizable by its forward-curling head plume and was adopted the same year Arizona picked the cactus wren.
Q 11South Dakota's state bird is which introduced game species?
Ring-necked pheasant
The pheasant is native to Asia and was brought to the state in the early 1900s. South Dakota is one of three states that allow hunting of its state bird.
Q 12Which state's official bird is the willow ptarmigan?
Alaska
The ptarmigan turns white in winter and feathers its feet like snowshoes. Alaska adopted it in 1955.
Q 13Colorado's state bird is which prairie songbird?
Lark bunting
Breeding males are black with a white wing patch. Colorado adopted it in 1931.
Q 21Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming all claim which bird?
Western meadowlark
Six states share it, second only to the cardinal. Its bright yellow breast carries a black V.
Q 22Which two states list the 'eastern goldfinch' as their state bird?
Iowa and New Jersey
Both mean the American goldfinch. Washington has the same species under a third name, the willow goldfinch.
Q 23Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin share which familiar backyard bird?
American robin
Michigan picked it in 1931, Connecticut in 1943 and Wisconsin in 1949.
Q 14Which state adopted the brown thrasher as its state bird in 1928?
Georgia
Atlanta's NHL team, the Thrashers, was named for it. Georgia also has a separate state game bird, the bobwhite quail.
Q 15Maryland's state bird shares its name with which MLB team?
Orioles
The Baltimore oriole was adopted in 1947. Its orange and black plumage matches the colors of Lord Baltimore's coat of arms.
Q 16Vermont's state bird, adopted in 1941, is which songbird?
Hermit thrush
Its flute-like song is considered one of the finest of any North American bird.
Q 17New Hampshire's state bird, adopted in 1957, is which species?
Purple finch
Adopted in 1957. Despite the name, the male looks more raspberry-red than purple.
Q 18Alabama's state bird, the yellowhammer, is a local name for which woodpecker?
Northern flicker
Alabama's nickname is the Yellowhammer State, a term that dates to Confederate soldiers' yellow-trimmed uniforms.
Q 19Idaho and Nevada share which state bird?
Mountain bluebird
Idaho chose it in 1931 and Nevada followed in 1967. The male is a striking sky-blue all over.
Q 20Missouri and New York share which state bird?
Eastern bluebird
Missouri adopted it in 1927; New York waited until 1970, making it the last state to choose a bird.
Q 24Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee share which state bird?
Northern mockingbird
Five states claim it. The species name polyglottos means 'many-tongued', a nod to its mimicry.
Q 25The ko'ko', a flightless rail, is the official bird of which US territory?
Guam
The Guam rail was driven extinct in the wild by the invasive brown tree snake, then reintroduced from captive flocks.
Q 26The District of Columbia designated which bird in 1938?
Wood thrush
DC picked its bird 32 years before New York became the last state to choose one.
Q 27Which territory's official bird is the bananaquit?
US Virgin Islands
The tiny nectar-feeder is locally called the yellow breast. The Virgin Islands adopted it in 1970.
Q 28Which territory's bird is a fruit dove?
Northern Mariana Islands
The Mariana fruit-dove is green with a crimson forehead and appears on the territory's flag-bearing seal.
Q 29Which state has never chosen an official state bird?
Pennsylvania
It does have a state game bird, the ruffed grouse, named in 1931.
Q 30Which bird is the state game bird of the one state with no official state bird?
Ruffed grouse
The grouse 'drums' by beating its wings on a log to attract mates, a sound often mistaken for an engine starting.