Overview
- HB 11 would replace the northern mockingbird with the American flamingo and name the Florida scrub-jay the state songbird after nearly a century with the mockingbird.
- Only one member, Rep. Alex Andrade of Pensacola, voted no and has promoted the pelican as an alternative or co-official bird.
- The Senate companion, SB 150, has cleared one committee and still must pass two more committees and a full Senate vote before any consideration by the governor.
- Supporters cite recent science and conservation gains, including a decade-long University of Central Florida genetic study and the FWC’s 2018 reclassification of flamingos as native.
- A late-January Sachs Media survey found the flamingo the top choice to represent Florida and 57% support for changing the state bird after respondents were told the mockingbird is current.