Illinois was the first of seven states to select the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as its State Bird. The cardinal was chosen in 1929. Illinois schoolchildren voted for the State Bird. The other candidates were the bluebird, meadowlark, bobwhite (quail) and oriole.

Nov 30, 1999 · The Northern Cardinal (Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis) became a state bird of Illinois in 1929. It was adopted as the state’s bird because the schoolchildren of Illinois voted for the Northern Cardinal to be their state bird in 1928.

Illinois schoolchildren chose the Cardinal as the state bird from a list: Cardinal 39.226 votes; Blue Bird 30,306; Meadowlark 16,237; Quail 15,843; Oriole 15,449. Six other states chose the Cardinal as their state bird: Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The northern cardinal is the state bird of Illinois. It averages about seven and one-half to nine inches in length. The male has bright-red feathers with a black patch of feathers at the base of the red bill.

The northern cardinal is the state bird of seven U.S. states, more than any other species: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia; although in each case the particular state just refers to the bird as "cardinal".

Illinois schoolchildren chose the cardinal as the Illinois state bird from among five choices: the winner received 39,226 votes; the blue bird got 30,306; the meadowlark, 16,237; the quail, 15,843; and the oriole, 15,449.

Dec 14, 2020 · One of the most beautiful things for Illinoisans to be proud of is our state bird, the northern cardinal! This bird is the bright red passerine (aka songbird) that you probably see frequently on bird feeders around town.

Sep 23, 2023 · The official Illinois State Bird is the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). A total of seven states have chosen the Northern Cardinal as their official state bird. Illinois chose the species in 1929, shortly after Kentucky named it their state bird in 1926.

The Northern Cardinal was declared by law as the official state bird in 1929 by the Illinois General Assembly. Although 6 other states have chosen this bird to represent their state, Illinois was the first one among them all to adopt this bird as a state symbol.

Illinois became the first of seven states to choose the cardinal as its state bird. 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.