Illinois schoolchildren selected the cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as the symbolic bird of Illinois, made official in 1929; facts, photos, video. Northern cardinals prefer a midpoint between wooded land and open areas, so The Prairie State became a natural choice for these birds. While the size of these birds varies depending on the state in which they reside, their lifespan, mating habits, and feeding trends are still similar. There are a lot of different habitats suitable for birds and wildlife, with many lakes and lowland mountainous areas.
An interesting fact about birds in the state of Ohio is that it was rare to see cardinals in the area during the 17th century; however, when the dense forests began to be felled, the number of cardinals in Ohio increased. The bird need not belong exclusively to the state, but must have a certain degree of loyalty to the state in terms of habitat. It was chosen as a state bird because of its fame and popularity, as well as because of its striking red color and because it can sing well. Illinois schoolchildren elected the cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as the state bird of Illinois, made official in 1929 by the Illinois General Assembly.
The state shares the North Cardinal as a state bird with Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, signed in 1918, prohibits the sale of this species as a bird in cages in the United States. In 1928, Illinois schoolchildren voted in favor of a state bird, at the behest of the Macomb branch of the National Federation of Professional Women's Clubs. The cardinal was adopted as Indiana's state bird by the 1933 General Assembly (Indiana Code 1-2).
North Carolina, another state located in the southeastern part of the United States, has also recognized the Nordic cardinal as an appropriate bird to symbolize its state. The Nordic cardinal was declared a bird of the state of Illinois by law in 1929 by the Illinois General Assembly. During an election to vote specifically for West Virginia's state bird and state tree in 1949, schoolchildren and other respected members of the state elected the red cardinal. The Nordic cardinal has been the state bird of Indiana since 1933, after being selected during a General Assembly, second only to Illinois in proclaiming this red bird as its official state bird.
So which state bird is the cardinal? This question has more than one answer, as it is a common bird shared by Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Virginia.
