National Park ServiceIllinois’ state bird took flight in 1928. The Macomb branch of the National Federation of Professional Women’s Clubs got the ball rolling. They convinced the State Superintendent of Public Instruction that school children should vote for a state bird.
Students were given a list of five birds, with a space for writing in other choices. Some 128,664 votes were returned. The cardinal won, with 39,226 votes. Below are the results for its closest competitors.
Bluebird 30,306 | Meadowlark 16,237Quail 15,843 | Oriole 15,449
At least, that’s one story. Another source says the meadowlark, song sparrow, wren, bobwhite, and catbird were favorites. A bill was reportedly introduced to adopt the catbird, but it emerged as a bill for the cardinal.
Either way, the cardinal was adopted as the state bird on June 4, 1929. It has ruled peacefully ever since, except for one brief challenge.
Purple Craze
In 1965, a bill was submitted to change the state bird to the purple martin. Martin fans noted that the purple martin performs a valuable service as an insect eater. They also noted the importance of the blossoming birdhouse industry to Illinois.
They pointed out that the cardinal represented six other states. (On the other hand, Illinois was the first to adopt the cardinal.)
Cardinal fans countered that their favorite bird remained in Illinois in winter, while martins migrate. They also pointed out that school children had voted for the cardinal.
A Graceful Loser
After much debate, the martin bill was withdrawn. But martin fans had at least given their bird some publicity, and Griggs, Illinois was still known as the nation’s “Purple Martin Capitol.”
The “cardinal grosbeak,” as it was once known, originally lived only in the southern third of Illinois. Today it ranges north into Canada.
Illinois actually boasts more cardinals in winter than in summer. This is probably because birds from Canada fly south into Illinois.
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