Utah is certainly amongst the last states of the US to get statehood. It is actually the 45th state. The official legalisation happened on January 4 of 1896. The capital of Utah is Salt Lake city. It is also known by the nickname of The Beehive State. However, the state bird of Utah has a deep history with the state.
What is the State Bird of Utah?
Since 1955, the California Gull has been designated as the state bird of Utah. There is even a monument in Salt Lake City in their honor, known as the Seagull Monument. This is because in 1848 when crickets were destroying so many crops, it was the California Gulls which consumed them and saved the people.
What Makes the State Bird of Utah Unusual?
The Utah official state bird is considered unusual because of its appearance. They have a round, fluffy body with a really short neck and head, they also have a yellow bill and legs. Their plumage is pure snow-white while their tail has grey and black in it. Their wings are also grey in color. They are the kind of bird that looks at home around the coastal area, yet, can be seen in dumpsters.
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Utah State Bird Facts
Let’s learn some facts about the Utah official state bird!
1 . California Gulls are considered gymnasts, the ones that fly around in the sky in this case. The maneuvers they do in the air are beyond amazing. Sometimes, it appears they have been suspended in the air, without any motion. They do so by getting caught up in the wind current in the right way. Their precision while flying is something to envy.
2. Like most gulls, the California Gulls are opportunists, too. They will eat anything they come across. Whether they get it through run and chase or by scavenging, it doesn’t matter to them. They do this thing where if they see flies swarming in an area, they will run through them with their bill open, eating every fly they find in their path.
3. Flying and catching prey, both take practice. California gulls do so diligently for both and often by using a single method to master both. The young California Gulls first drop a stick when they are in midair and then, with one giant swoop, they catch it before they hit the ground.
Final Thoughts
The California Gulls are found where they should be, along the seashore. If you want to see the Utah state bird, you will want to visit the seas of Utah. Actually, California Gulls have a habit of visiting scrublands and even garbage areas, so you might have luck in those places as well. The California Gulls have an extremely white plumage, as we have already discussed. So, it is very well possible that you might not even notice them easily due to how well they blend in with nature. As a birder, though, you should be ready with your binoculars for these kinds of situations.
