Bird of the Week 2/27 - 3/3

state bird series, pt. 1

Hi all,

Starting this week, I am going to devote the next few BOTWs to highlight the state birds of the US.

This week’s (state) bird is the: Willow Goldfinch (Washington)

1) There’s no better way to start this series than with Washington, who designated the Willow Goldfinch as their state bird in 1951. The US also ratified the 22nd amendment this year, but I would still say that the Willow Goldfinch designation was the greatest legislative achievement.

2) You tell me, what’s wrong with this email so far? You may recognize the picture above as an American Goldfinch. That’s because it is! The Willow Goldfinch isn’t actually a real bird. Major fail, Washington.

3) To make it even worse, 2 other states have the American Goldfinch as their state bird… New Jersey and Iowa. Very original, Washington.

4) To make ^ even worse, they also call the American Goldfinch by a not real name: the Eastern Goldfinch. Unbelievable.

5) Washington (plus New Jersey and Iowa) have a lot better birds to draw from than the common American Goldfinch. For Washington: how about the Varied Thrush, or the Townsend’s Warbler? Write your state congresspeople!

Bonus fact: Goldfinches are boring

Have a not-boring week!