Why is the cardinal the state bird of Illinois?

The cardinal was made the official bird of Illinois in 1929 after receiving 39,226 votes. Schoolchildren selected this bird over the bluebird, meadowlark, quail and oriole. The cardinal was named by early American settlers, after Catholic cardinals who dress in bright red robes.

Who is Illinois state bird?

Northern Cardinal
Illinois State Bird – Northern Cardinal Illinois was the first of seven states to select the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as its State Bird. The cardinal was chosen in 1929.

What is Illinois State animal?

White-tailed Deer
State Animal — White-tailed Deer: The white-tailed deer was selected the state animal by Illinois schoolchildren in 1980 and became official by law in 1982. Native to North America, the deer has a gray coat that turns reddish brown in summer and an eye-catching tail that is bright white on the underside.

What is the official bird of Chicago?

peregrine falcon
The peregrine falcon (Chicago’s Official City Bird) and her handler look on.

What is the state nickname of Illinois?

Land of Lincoln
The Prairie State
Illinois/Nicknames

Are Cardinals found in Illinois?

The northern cardinal is a common, permanent resident statewide in Illinois. The northern cardinal lives in woodlands, thickets, brushy and weedy areas, residential areas and parks. It also uses open fields in winter. The male and female both sing.

Is it rare to see a red cardinal?

Where You Can Find Cardinals. If you live in Mid USA to Eastern USA then there’s a good chance you will see cardinals, with the Northern Cardinal being the most common. They are so popular that they are the state bird for 7 states including Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio, and you will find them on greetings cards.

What is the state mammal for Illinois?

Illinois designated white-tailed deer as the official state animal in 1980 after winning the vote of the schoolchildren of Illinois. Eleven other states recognize the graceful white-tailed deer as a state symbol (Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin).

What is Illinois’s State bug?

State insect. The insect Danaus plexippus, commonly known as the “Monarch Butterfly”, is designated the official State insect of the State of Illinois.

What birds live in Northern Illinois?

Birds commonly seen in northern Illinois such as hummingbirds, hawks, goldfinch,mallards, egrets, herons, robins, sparrows, and mourning dove.

What are the symbols of Illinois?

White oak, violet, big blue stem, monarch butterfly, whitetail deer, cardinal, and bluegill. What do these things have in common? They are all official state symbols of Illinois. They were so designated to recognize the importance of the state’s natural resources.