What Is the Indiana State Bird? Official Bird and Updates

Indiana's official state bird is the Northern Cardinal, also called the Red Bird. The legal designation is found in Indiana Code 1-2-8-1, which reads: 'The bird commonly known as the Red Bird or Cardinal (Richmondena Cardinalis Cardinalis) is hereby adopted and designated as the official state bird of the state of Indiana.' No other bird holds that title today, and no government re-designation has taken place.

About that 'new state bird' claim

If you searched something like 'Indiana has a new state bird' or 'Indiana new state bird song,' you ran into a reference to a 1979 novelty tribute song, not a legislative change. Terre Haute's Tom Montgomery wrote and produced a song called 'Indiana Has a New State Bird' as a playful nod to basketball star Larry Bird, whose last name made the title irresistible. The song is a piece of Indiana sports and music history, but it has nothing to do with the official state symbol. The Cardinal remains Indiana's state bird, exactly as designated by the General Assembly.

When Indiana actually made it official

There is a small discrepancy in the historical record worth knowing. The Indiana Historical Bureau traces the designation to the 1933 General Assembly, while IN.gov's official FAQ cites 1957 as the adoption year, both referencing Indiana Code 1-2-8. The most likely explanation is that the designation was first made in 1933 and later codified or re-affirmed in the 1957 legislative session. Either way, the Cardinal has been Indiana's official state bird for decades, and there has been no reversal or update since.

How to identify the Cardinal in Indiana

The Cardinal is one of the easiest birds to identify in North America, which is part of why it's so beloved. Here are the traits that matter most for spotting one:

• Adult male: unmistakably bright red all over, with a prominent crest and a black mask around the face and throat
• Adult female: olive-gray overall, with a dull reddish crest, wings, and tail; not as flashy as the male but still distinctly shaped
• Both sexes: stout, coral-red bill built for cracking seeds, and dark red feet
• Crest: the Cardinal is the only red bird in the U.S. with a crest, making it a reliable field marker
• Call: a loud, metallic 'chip' used frequently, especially when defending territory or warning of predators; also produces a clear, whistled song
• Year-round resident: Cardinals do not migrate, so you can find them in Indiana in any season

Where to find Cardinals in Indiana

The Indiana DNR points to hedgerows, wood margins, and roadsides as the most reliable spots. Cardinals also turn up consistently at backyard feeders, in suburban neighborhoods with shrubby cover, and at the edges of woodlands. They nest in thickets of brambles or low saplings, and their eggs are bluish-white with brown markings. Because they stay in Indiana year-round, you don't need to time a special trip to see one.

Why Indiana chose the Cardinal

The Cardinal was a natural fit for a state bird designation. It's a permanent, year-round resident, so it genuinely represents Indiana rather than just passing through. It's also one of the most visually distinctive birds in the region, with the male's red plumage being immediately recognizable even to people who don't consider themselves birders. The 'Red Bird' nickname was already in common use across the Midwest when Indiana's General Assembly made the designation, reflecting how deeply the bird was already embedded in local culture and landscape. Its presence in every corner of the state, from farm edges to city parks, made it a symbol that felt honest and representative.

Indiana is far from alone on this one

The Northern Cardinal is one of the most popular state bird choices in the country. Seven states have designated it as their official bird, making it the most widely shared state bird in the eastern United States. Indiana's neighbors Kentucky and Ohio are both on that list, which tells you something about how dominant the Cardinal is across the Midwest and mid-Atlantic region.

Ohio's designation is worth a closer look if you're curious about regional comparisons. Ohio's official state bird is the Northern Cardinal Ohio's designation. Ohio's Revised Code names 'cardinalis cardinalis' as its official bird and uses 'cardinal' as the common name, while Indiana's code still uses the older scientific name Richmondena cardinalis cardinalis, which reflects the taxonomy in use at the time of designation. The bird is the same species. Kentucky made the Cardinal its official state bird in 1926, making it one of the earliest states to do so. If you're wondering what the Kentucky state bird is, it's also the Northern Cardinal Kentucky made the Cardinal its official state bird in 1926. If you're exploring why specific states made the Cardinal choice, the reasoning across all seven states tends to follow the same logic as Indiana's: the bird is a year-round resident, visually striking, and already popular with the public before any formal vote. If you are wondering why the cardinal became Ohio’s state bird, the official reasoning is similar to other states: it is a year-round resident and a highly recognizable symbol.

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