State symbols are often adopted after a collaborative effort by citizens and students to have a significant item recognized for its importance to the state. States such as Alabama and many others began to adopt some of their own official state symbols several decades ago and, in some cases, well over 100 years ago.
A state symbol comes in the form of state animals, birds, flowers, amphibians, trees, nicknames, flags, state seals, and much more. The Alabama state bird and flower are the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) and the Camellia (Camellia japonica L).
Citizens, children, and educational institutions often research a particular symbol and make a request for a bill, subsequently following it all the way through the legislative process with the hope that it gets enacted, and that a new state symbol is announced for Alabama. Like other states, there are many Alabama state symbols.
What is the Alabama State Bird?
The famous yellowhammer was adopted by Alabama to be the official state bird in 1927. The Yellowhammer goes by the name of the Northern Flicker; however, due to the symbolic nature of the name, being Alabama’s nickname too, people often refer to it as the Yellowhammer.
Northern flickers are incredibly beautiful birds that showcase a variety of stunning colors and patterns. You can find these flickers all across the United States, however, their population is, unfortunately, declining, especially the yellow-shafted flicker.
Professionals have deemed some of the reasons for this as pesticides on lawns and bird feeding areas with the addition of deforestation happening all across North America. The current population is an estimated 900+ million, but this amount could diminish if nothing is done about their declining numbers!
What is the Alabama State Flower?
Camellias are abundantly popular flowers due to their beauty and aroma. The camellia became the official Alabama state flower all the way back in 1959. There is nothing super complex about them, nor their coloration. They are typically light pink all over with many layers of glorious petals.
The camellia also goes by the name of “the rose of winter,” and the flower is native to China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Thanks to the United States’ influence, camellias have been cultivated for several years and you can see them in many different forms and colors!
Most states will have their symbols showcase a relevant story that is indicative of the state and its history, and the Yellowhammer State puts its history and what it stands for across very well in its state bird and flower. These interesting facts about Alabama and a whole host of others are what make the state so unique and fascinating to those that live there, those that are planning to visit or are researching the historical events of the state and what they symbolize.
