A New State Bird??

 Representative quacks back, files duck bill to make mallard Arkansas’s state bird

What is Arkansas’s state bird? Honestly, when this post caught my eye I thought that the thought of changing the state bird may be a good idea. The more I’ve thought about it, the more I disagree with the thought of changing the state bird.

Currently the Arkansas state bird is a Northern mockingbird. No, I did not know that this of all the birds in Arkansas was our state bird. The Northern mockingbird has been Arkansas’s state bird since 1929, that’s a total of 94 years. Why change after this long? We have been content with the state bird until now. What has changed other than society. This would be a major change in Arkansas’s history. What if their choice is regretted a few months down the road.

Photo from National Wildlife Federation

Tuesday, April 4th a bill was filled to change Arkansas’s state bird. The bird that is in consideration for Arkansas’s new state bird is the mallard duck. Later that week there was another bird that joined the running against the mallard duck. This bird being the painted bunting. 

Photo from AZ Animals

Why to be against the mallard duck? Mallard ducks are not native to Arkansas, yes many mallard ducks come through the state but they do no reside here. As for the painted bunting do reside in Arkansas, but only during two seasons. That being said the painted bunting is a better option than the mallard duck considering that mallards do not live here.

Photo from All About Birds

Would you change the Arkansas state bird? Why try to make the change now? Would you choose the mallard duck or the painted bunting? Would you stand to keep the Northern mockingbird?