For nearly a century, the mockingbird has reigned supreme as the state bird of Florida, surviving multiple coup attempts by the Florida Legislature. Once again, a lawmaker this year wants to dethrone the bird known for its lilting sounds.

For the state's 2024 legislative session, Mooney filed a bill on Dec. 6, 2023 with the same purpose of replacing the mockingbird with the flamingo as the state bird, but it died in the House of Representatives' Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee just three months later on March 8.

Florida's Rep. Jim Mooney has filed a proposal to make the American flamingo the official state bird, unseating the mockingbird, which is the current state bird. The change would be official on Jul. 1 if approved.

Once again, Florida lawmakers are debating whether to replace the northern mockingbird with the Florida scrub-jay as the official state bird. Of course they should. Everyone knows that. The

A bill has been filed to change Florida’s state bird from the mockingbird to the flamingo and make the scrub jay the state’s official songbird. A similar bill was filed last year, but did not pass. If it does pass, the flamingo will become the state bird on July 1, 2025.

Florida lawmakers could again consider replacing the mockingbird as the state bird. Rep. Jim Mooney, R-Islamorada, on Friday filed a proposal (HB 81) that would lead to the flamingo replacing the mockingbird, which has been the state’s bird since 1927. The bill also would name the Florida scrub jay as the official state songbird.

Mooney on Friday filed legislation ( HB 81) for the 2025 legislative session to make the American flamingo the official state bird and the Florida scrub-jay the official state songbird. Mooney filed a similar bill last year. If passed this session, it would mean finally knocking out the mockingbird, first named state bird in 1927.