Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral) introduced legislation this week to make the American flamingo the official state bird of Florida while naming the Florida scrub-jay as the official state songbird.
Under SB 150, the American flamingo would replace the northern mockingbird, which has held the title since 1927. While the northern mockingbird is shared by four other states—Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee, and Mississippi—Rodriguez and supporters argue the flamingo better reflects Florida’s unique wildlife and culture.
American flamingos are native to Florida but largely disappeared by the 20th century. Captive colonies began appearing in South Florida after 1925, including a breeding colony at Hialeah Park Race Track in the 1930s. Today, sightings are primarily limited to the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, and the Florida Keys, with only about 1% of the estimated 260,000–300,000 birds residing in Florida.
The Florida scrub-jay, endemic to the state, would also gain recognition as the official state songbird, highlighting a species found nowhere else in the U.S.
This is not the first attempt to change the state bird. A similar bill filed during the 2025 legislative session failed in committee. House representatives Jim Mooney (R-Islamorada) and Chip LaMarca (R-Lighthouse Point) have filed HB 11, a companion bill to SB 150, echoing their previous efforts.
If passed, the legislation would take effect on July 1, 2026, officially updating Florida’s state symbols.
