Why is the northern cardinal the Kentucky State Bird?

KENTUCKY ( FOX 56 ) — Known for its “ abundant natural beauty “, including its rolling hills, thoroughbred horses, and bountiful wildlife.

Stretched across roughly 40,000 square kilometers of land, nearly 400 species of birds call the Bluegrass State their home.

In 1926, the northern cardinal was named the official state bird of Kentucky . Known for their pleasant songs and distinctive appearance, the cardinal is one of America’s favorite backyard birds, according to State Symbols USA.

Lawmakers were so certain the cardinal was the right state bird for them that they codified it as the state bird in 1942. It’s believed the cardinal was chosen due to its prevalence across Kentucky, its cheerful songs, and its tendency not to migrate south for the winter, according to BirdZilla.

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Male cardinals are a distinctive scarlet red feathered across most of their body, and a pronounced black “mask” covers their face and bill. Meanwhile, female cardinals have a more brown body with more red covering their wings.

The cardinal is named after high-ranking clergy members of the Catholic Church. Just like the bird, cardinals of the church tend to wear bright-colored vestments.

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