State symbols across the United States serve as emblems of local identity, highlighting elements of a state’s natural environment. For New York, this tradition is upheld by an official state bird, a small thrush species that is native and widespread across the state’s diverse geography. This bird connects the state to a history of conservation and appreciation for its avian residents.
Identifying the State Bird
The official state bird of New York is the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), a small songbird with a distinctive profile. The male features brilliant royal blue plumage across its head, back, wings, and tail. This vibrant blue contrasts sharply with a warm, reddish-brown breast and throat, which tapers down to a white belly.
The female Eastern Bluebird is similar in pattern but possesses a more subdued coloration, appearing grayer on the back with a duller, more muted orange-brown on the breast. Both sexes are relatively small, typically measuring between six and eight inches long with a wingspan of about 10 to 13 inches. This species is a member of the thrush family, the same family as the American Robin.
The Official Designation Process
New York officially adopted the Eastern Bluebird as its state bird in 1970, making it one of the last states to establish such a symbol. This action, signed by Governor Nelson Rockefeller, followed a long period where the bird was considered the unofficial favorite. An informal 1928 referendum, organized by the New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs, had selected the bluebird, but the result was not codified into state law.
The bluebird held unofficial status for 42 years before its formal recognition. The eventual selection was based on the bird’s native status and widespread presence across the state. The choice also symbolized hope and beauty, aligning with a broader movement by conservationists to protect the species. The legislative action ensured the Eastern Bluebird was formally recognized for its significance to New York’s natural heritage.
Ecology and Behavior in New York
The Eastern Bluebird thrives in open country with scattered trees, such as pastures, orchards, golf courses, and old fields with sparse ground cover. This preference for open habitat allows them to perch on wires or branches and easily spot prey. They are primarily insectivores during the warmer months, consuming insects like caterpillars, grasshoppers, and spiders, which they hunt by swooping down.
In the fall and winter, when insect availability declines, their diet shifts to wild fruits and berries from plants such as sumac, dogwood, and juniper. Eastern Bluebirds are cavity nesters, relying on natural tree hollows or old woodpecker holes for shelter and breeding. They readily use human-made nest boxes, which have been instrumental in the species’ population recovery after declines earlier in the 20th century due to competition for nesting sites.
While the species is technically migratory, many individuals in New York exhibit partial migration, with some birds remaining throughout the winter if they can find sufficient food and shelter. Those that do migrate are often among the first to return north in the early spring, signaling the changing season. Bluebirds typically raise two or three successful broods each nesting season, with the female building the nest of grass and the young from earlier broods sometimes assisting their parents in feeding later clutches.