Trouble is, there are only about 4,000 of them concentrated in central Florida and the federal government lists them as threatened.īrandes did not suggest a mockingbird replacement in his legislation. The same cannot be said of the Florida scrub jay, described by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as the sole bird species found only in Florida. “It can be seen, watched, studied and enjoyed by children and adults on any given day in all areas of Florida.” “The mockingbird is a well established, independent, prolific bird that doesn’t need government protection or our tax dollars to survive,” Hammer wrote. Its Latin name translates to “many-tongued thrush.” The mockingbird can sing up to 200 different tunes and mimic artificial sounds like car alarms. She wrote in a recent opinion piece that the mockingbird deserves our continued love. It may not be quite as representative of today’s bustling, modern Florida - and four other states also call it the state bird.īut it has supporters, including Marion Hammer, the lobbyist in Florida for the National Rifle Association and executive director of the Unified Sportsmen of Florida. The gray-and-white mockingbird, celebrated in literature and music, has been Florida’s state bird since 1927, when the state was much more agricultural and less populated on the coasts. Some joke it should be the construction crane. The white ibis, swallow-tailed kite and wood stork also get mentioned. Suggestions for a new state bird are all over the map, but four main contenders have emerged: the Florida scrub jay, flamingo, osprey and roseate spoonbill. ”To me, it’s a fun conversation to have.” Petersburg Republican whose legislation would strip the mockingbird of its title. “Part of what we’re working to do is highlight that Florida has these incredible species and we should recognize the bird that most represents Florida,” said state Sen. (AP) - After nearly a century on its lofty perch, the northern mockingbird may be singing its last melodies as the state bird of Florida.Īn effort is taking flight to replace the far-ranging musical mockingbird with a bird that is more identifiable as distinctly Floridian.

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