Is Florida Finally Dumping the Mockingbird?

February 5, 2026

The battle for Florida’s skies has reached a fever pitch! After nearly 100 years of the gray Northern Mockingbird representing the Sunshine State, lawmakers are moving at lightning speed to crown a new, pinker icon.

On February 5, 2026, the Florida House officially added HB 11 to its “Special Order Calendar,” setting the stage for a historic vote this Wednesday, February 11. If it passes, the Northern Mockingbird is out—and a two-bird “Dream Team” is in!

The proposed bill doesn’t just pick one winner; it completely redefines Florida’s avian identity:

The New State Bird: The American Flamingo. Advocates argue it’s the only bird that matches Florida’s “bold and brilliant” energy.
The New State Songbird: The Florida Scrub-Jay. This blue-feathered genius is the only bird species that lives exclusively in Florida—making it a true native.

Florida is currently one of five states (alongside Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas) that claims the mockingbird. Rep. Jim Mooney, the bill’s sponsor, says it’s time for Florida to stop sharing.

“When the world thinks of Florida, do they think of a gray mockingbird or a bright flamingo standing tall in the sun?”

The change isn’t a guaranteed slam dunk. For decades, legendary NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer has famously blocked any attempts to unseat the mockingbird, once calling the Scrub-Jay an “evil little bird” with a “welfare mentality” because it accepts food from humans.

However, with the bill sailing through committees with unanimous support this month, 2026 looks like the year the “pink wave” finally crashes into Tallahassee.

Written by: Janetzy