Kentucky State Bird

The 15th state in the US that became one of the 50 states is Kentucky. As early as in 1792 Kentucky got its position. It was on the exact date of June 1. The capital city of this state is Frankfort. As for the nickname, Kentucky is called the Bluegrass state. For its state bird, though, it has a species that’s actually shared among many other states.

What is the State Bird of Kentucky?

Kentucky belongs to one of the seven states, that has decided on the Northern Cardinal as its state bird. The official position was given in 1926 in Kentucky. Cardinals are hard to miss, considering the bright red plumage in males. The female Cardinals have a slightly brownish shade of red but still, their entire plumage has such a distinct color that if you see Cardinals between the trees, you will be sure they are them. Both the male and female have a black mask around their bill.

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What Makes the State Bird of Kentucky Unusual?

Is there anything more unusual than the bright red color of male cardinals? They have such a vivid color that they can’t hide themselves among trees, no matter how much they wish to. That spark of red will always catch your eyes. Even female cardinals, who have a more brownish plumage, have such distinct red crests and wings that it is impossible to miss them. The melody that comes out of them, the sharp whistle sound, is another thing that you can’t miss about Northern Cardinals.

Kentucky State Bird Facts

There are a lot of interesting facts about Northern Cardinals. Let’s learn about three of them!

1. Female songbirds of North America aren’t known to sing. Female Cardinals turn out to be notable exceptions though. They sing frequently, especially when they are inside their nests. When they sing in their nests, the male cardinal immediately knows it’s a call for him to find food for the family. The male and female cardinal also frequently exchange song phrases amongst each other. The whistles from the female cardinals have been noted to be slightly complex and longer though.

2. During spring, cardinals are often seen attacking their reflection. This is because they become more possessive about their territory and are in a somewhat obsessive state. They can’t differentiate between an enemy and a friend and often mistake their own reflection for an enemy. Basically, any bird or even human being coming close to them during this time is in danger from them.

3. The aggressive behavior from cardinals disappears as summer comes closer and the hormones are more stable. There is one story of a female cardinal staying in this state for six months, though.

Final Thoughts

North America in general sees a lot of Northern Cardinals. Kentucky is no different. These birds are likely to be resting and feeding in your backyard as they are to be found among the more grassy areas. They also have a striking appearance, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem for you to spot them even in bushy areas.

Ornithology