The Official Virginia State Bird

Cardinal

The Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is the official Virginia state bird. Cardinals are members of the bird family Passeriformes and the genus Cardinalis. They are medium-sized songbirds with a stout, conical bill and a distinctive crest. Male cardinals are bright red with an orange bill and black face, while female cardinals are a duller red-brown.

Cardinals have played an important role in Virginia's history since the 1600s. Colonists to the area were so taken by the birds' beauty that they named them after the red robes worn by Catholic cardinals. The birds were also associated with the state's religious history, as they were often seen around churches and graveyards. In 1950, the cardinal was chosen as the official state bird of Virginia, in recognition of its beauty and its rich history in the state.

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