Flamingo bill gets new wings as House panel backs state bird swap

A fresh attempt to ground the mockingbird and elevate the American flamingo gained new wings as a House committee advanced legislation after a playful debate filled with regional pride and a few pointed questions.

Islamorada Republican Rep. Jim Mooney presented the bill (HB 11) to the House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee, telling members the flamingo has earned its place after years of restoration work in the Everglades and Indian River Lagoon. He argued the bird is iconic, marketable and increasingly visible as populations rebound.

“It’s time for the flamingo to be the state bird,” Mooney said, noting that the mockingbird is also used by five other states. He added that the flamingo “represents a milestone in restoration” and is now found in the Indian River Lagoon, Merritt Island, Bonita Springs, Tampa Bay and St. Marks areas and throughout South Florida.

Mooney also defended the second piece of the bill, which would designate the Florida scrub-jay as the official state songbird. He reminded members it is the only bird found exclusively in Florida.

“Along with the state bird comes the songbird of Florida, which is the only true songbird in the State of Florida, (the) scrub-jay,” Mooney said. “It is actually the only bird that never leaves the State of Florida, it is endemic to the state, so it is here to stay unless we bulldoze it to extinction.” 

Republican Rep. Chip LaMarca of Lighthouse Point, the bill’s co-sponsor, encouraged members to visit Flamingo Gardens in Broward County as he backed the bill. 

“It’s one of the most amazing collections of these amazing birds,” he said.

Some members questioned how the change would register with voters in other regions. Pensacola Republican Rep. Alex Andrade pressed Mooney on whether the Panhandle would see much benefit, saying mockingbirds are common in his district.

“It doesn’t sound like either of these two birds that you want to represent the entire state are found in my neck of the woods in the Panhandle, however the mockingbirds are,” Andrade said. “I hear their sweet songs most mornings. What is it that you have against the Panhandle?”

Mooney insisted the flamingo is a statewide symbol, even appearing on lottery tickets and at many Florida airports. 

“Realistically, what do you get out of it? You get something that means something,” he said. “The flamingo means something to the state of Florida. It has, always. If you ask people around the state of Florida what’s the state bird, very few people ever say the mockingbird. They’ll say the flamingo, they might say a pelican. But the reality of it is the flamingo represents Florida, it always has since I was a kid.”

Tallahassee Democratic Rep. Allison Tant raised the longevity of the mockingbird’s status, pointing out it has been the state bird for 98 years. Mooney acknowledged the history but was unmoved. 

“I feel bad for the mockingbird, and not really,” Mooney said. “It’s recognized already in history.”

Only one public card was submitted, from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, waving in support of the change. The debate closed with LaMarca praising the conservation message behind the bill.

The subcommittee approved the bill on a 14 to 1 vote, with three members recorded as not voting due to absences, moving the flamingo and scrub-jay pairing one step closer to floor action during the Legislative session.

Andrade voted in favor of the proposal, but said he intends to file a future amendment that would name the pelican as the Northwest fishing bird of the state.

Palm Bay Republican Rep. Monique Miller, the lone “no” vote on the measure, explained that she supports the flamingo as a state bird but not the scrub-jay.

“The scrub-jay has just been commandeered to really violate property rights across Florida and I just cannot allow it to be elevated to this level,” Miller said. “I wish these were de-coupled because I want to make the flamingo your bird so badly.”