House Votes To Make Flamingo Florida's Next State Bird

Lawmakers consider replacing the mockingbird with the American flamingo as Florida's state bird

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Florida's House voted late Wednesday to establish the American flamingo as the new state bird, a step toward knocking the mockingbird off its perch after nearly a century. The bill still needs to pass through the Senate before becoming law.

Why it matters

The flamingo is a unique and iconic symbol of Florida, with its bright pink plumage and association with the state's diverse ecosystems. Designating it as the official state bird would recognize the flamingo's cultural significance and conservation efforts to restore its native population in the state.

The details

The House voted 112-1 to approve the bill, with some lawmakers wearing pink clothing during the vote. The bill still needs to pass through two more Senate committees before facing a full Senate vote. Some legislators have raised concerns that the flamingo only represents a small part of the state since its range doesn't extend much beyond South Florida. However, a recent study from the University of Central Florida found that flamingos are native to Florida, having been heavily hunted in the early 1900s before making a comeback.

  • The House voted late Wednesday to approve the bill.
  • The bill still needs to pass through two more Senate committees before facing a full Senate vote.

The players

Rep. Jim Mooney

A Key Largo Republican who sponsored the bill to make the flamingo the new state bird.

Rep. Monique Miller

A Brevard Republican who voiced concerns that elevating the status of the scrub jay alongside the flamingo would slow development across the state due to protections.

Rep. Alex Andrade

A Pensacola Republican who posted on X that Florida's state bird should be the pelican and asked Mooney if he would consider making the pelican a co-official state bird.

Rachel Michelle Groves

A Florida resident who started a campaign in 2018 to make the flamingo the state bird, joining the Florida Flamingo Working Group.

Steffanie Munguía

A manager of conservation efforts related to birds at Zoo Miami who provided information on the flamingo's habitat requirements and breeding behavior.

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What they’re saying

“Florida is one of the most unique places in the country. Our ecosystems are extremely diverse. All of a sudden we have flamingos back.”

— Rep. Jim Mooney, Key Largo Republican (southfloridareporter.com)

“I'm not trying to stop building. I'm trying to make people hear we have precious items in front of us that are bigger than just a bird.”

— Rep. Jim Mooney, Key Largo Republican (southfloridareporter.com)

“Even when there's just a sighting, people flock to those areas just to see the flamingos come in.”

— Rachel Michelle Groves, Florida resident and flamingo advocate (southfloridareporter.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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