Alabama is the only state with a woodpecker for a state bird. The yellowhammer was adopted in September 6, 1927. It is more properly called a common flicker. The yellow-shafted variety is considered Alabama’s state bird.
Civil War Souvenir
Alabama had been known as the “Yellowhammer State” since the Civil War. Some say the name recalls an incident that occurred during the Civil War.
A company of young cavalry soldiers from Huntsville, arrived at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, under the command of Rev. D.C. Kelly. The men wore bits of brilliant yellow cloth on the sleeves, collars, and coat tails of their fine new uniforms.
Soldiers who had been fighting for a long time wore uniforms that were worn and faded. When they saw the new arrivals, one of them called out, “Yellerhammer, Yellerhammer, flicker, flicker!” The greeting provoked a roar of laughter. The Huntsville soldiers were later spoken of as the “yellowhammer company.” In time, all Alabama soldiers became known as yellowhammers.
Confederate Colors
According to the Alabama Department of Conservation, Alabama soldiers were called “yellowhammers” because of the color of their homespun uniforms. They had no commercial dyes, so they colored their uniforms with the juice of hickory bark.
After the war, the Confederate Veterans in Alabama were organized. They were proud to bear the name “Yellowhammers.” They even wore a yellowhammer feather in their caps or lapels during reunions.
They said the black dots on the bird’s breast reminded them of bullet holes. The yellowhammer’s gray feathers also matched the gray uniforms most Confederate soldiers wore. The bird even appears to be wearing a red bandana on its neck!
For Alabama’s flickers, life was easier during the Civil War. There were more dead trees for them to nest in. Today, flickers are also decreasing because of pesticides used to kill fire ants.
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