In the early 1900s, schools throughout Illinois began having schoolchildren vote on different types of plants they believed best represented Illinois in order to designate State symbols and teach students about the importance of nature. Widespread participation in polling on the State flower and tree prompted the Macomb chapter of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women to pose students with yet another question in 1928: which bird should represent Illinois? Schoolchildren from 96 counties filled out ballots with several options but ultimately sided with the cardinal, edging out the bluebird by more than 8,000 votes. Members of the 56th General Assembly concurred with the students’ selection and passed House Bill 5, officially designating the cardinal as Illinois’ State Bird. Since then, six other states have followed suit, making the cardinal the most common State Bird in the country.
While Illinois is home to hundreds of species of birds, the cardinal’s unique characteristics made it an obvious choice to be recognized as an official State symbol. Famed for its distinctive looks, the songbird took on its name when first discovered by European settlers in the 17th century who thought the males’ bright red feathers and prominent crests resembled the attire worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. Beyond their striking appearance, cardinals are also admired for their wide range of songs, each bird with its own chirp, and are among the few species of which both males and females sing.
The unmistakable sight and sound of a cardinal alone warrants its admiration among nature lovers, but the birds are equally remarkable in terms of their adaptability. Northern cardinals can be seen throughout the state thanks to their ability to thrive in a variety of habitats such as forests, swamps, and even urban environments. Much like the people who call Illinois home, cardinals are also able to withstand harsh winter climates and remain in the state year-round. While preparing for colder months, cardinals use their thick beaks to feed on a wide range of foods including seeds, nuts, insects, and berries which give the bird their iconic red hue. This variety not only allows cardinals to forage wherever they may be, but also makes them important regulators of Illinois’ ecosystems. The presence of both fruits and insects in their diet allows them to provide constant regeneration of flora and keep overpopulated species of pests under control.
Though the northern cardinal plays a vital role in Illinois’ ecological health and has laid claim as Illinois’ State Bird since 1929, it was not always common throughout the Prairie State. Originally from the southeast, cardinals in the United States only began expanding their range deep into the Midwest in the late 1800s thanks to the development of suburban areas and the increased use of birdfeeders. Cardinals soon began to populate throughout the state and quickly gained the attention of Illinoisans from Metro East to Chicago.
Almost 100 years after its official designation as State Bird, the northern cardinal remains a symbol of Illinois’ remarkable beauty and biodiversity. Their role in bringing balance to our ecosystems and beauty to our backyards makes them a treasured emblem of the 21st state and a hallmark of its natural heritage.