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State Birds
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Minnesota Symbols
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Minnesota State Bird
Common Loon
(Gavia immer)
Adopted in 1961
Before the Legislature decided that the loon should be Minnesota’s state bird, several other birds were suggested,
including the Eastern goldfinch (1947), the mourning dove (1951), the pileated woodpecker (1951 and 1953), the scarlet
tanager (1951) and the wood duck (1951).
Read more about it: Elizabeth M. Bachmann, “Minnesota’s
New State Bird, the Loon,” Gopher Historian (Fall 1961): 17-22.
On January 17, 1961, House Bill No. 79 was introduced proposing that the common loon (Gavia immer) be adopted as the
official state bird of Minnesota. It was approved by the Minnesota House of Representatives on February 18, 1961. A
similar bill was introduced in the Senate. Senate Bill No. 843, was introduced shortly after the House vote on February
28, 1961. It was approved by the Senate on March 7, 1961.
On March 13, 1961, Governor Elmer L. Andersen signed the legislation that adopted the common loon (Gavia immer)
the official state bird of the State of Minnesota
Description of the
Michigan State Bird
The common loon is one of the earth's oldest living bird species. Its name comes from a Norwegian word that means "wild, sad cry." Approximately 12,000 make their homes in Minnesota. Loons are large black-and-white birds with long black bills. Clumsy on land, they are excellent divers, underwater swimmers, and high-speed flyers.
Larger than a mallard but smaller than a goose, this water bird has a thick neck and a long, black bill. Its legs are
set far back on its body, so it has an awkward gait on land. The male is slightly larger than the female, but otherwise
the two sexes look identical
- Length: 24 inches Wingspan: 58 inches
- Sexes similar
- Large diving bird with long body that rides low in the water
- Large bill is straight, tapers to a point, and is held horizontally
- Feet set far back on body, and trail behind body in flight
- Upperwings wholly dark in flight
Adult alternate
- Black bill
- Black head
- Black neck with white markings
- White chest and belly
- Black back with white checkering and spotting
Adult basic
- Pale gray bill
- Gray-brown cap, forehead, nape, hindneck and back
- White face, eye ring, chin, throat, foreneck and belly
- Jagged border between white foreneck and dark hindneck
Immature
- Like basic-plumaged adult but often with paler bill and white scalloping on back
Statute
Minnesota Statutes, Jurisdiction, Civil Divisions, Chapter 1, Section 1.145.
JURISDICTION, CIVIL DIVISIONS.
CHAPTER 1 - SOVEREIGNTY, JURISDICTION, EMERGENCY OPERATION, GENERAL POLICIES.
SECTION 1.145.
1.145 State bird.
Subdivision 1. Loon. The loon, Gavia immer, is the official bird of the state of Minnesota.
Subd. 2. Photograph. A photograph of the loon shall be preserved in the Office of the Secretary of State.
HIST: 1961 c 76 s 1,2; 1984 c 628 art 1 s 1
MINNESOTA State Bird: Loon (Gavia immer); adopted 1961.
Statutory citation: Minn. Stat. 1.145
History:
1961 Minn. Laws Chap. 76 (HF79, approved 13 March)
Also previously proposed but not adopted (not necessarily a comprehensive list):
Eastern goldfinch, 1947 (HF239/SF212); 1949 (HF668/SF567)
Loon, 1951 (HF552/SF533)
Mourning dove, 1951 (HF1405)
Pileated woodpecker, 1951 (HF317); 1953 (HF383/SF417)
Scarlet tanager, 1951 (HF278)
Wood duck, 1951 (HF111)
Kingfisher ?
Sources of additional information:
Elizabeth M. Bachmann, "Minnesota's New State bird, the Loon," Gopher Historian (Fall 1961): 17-22. According to Bachmann, the American (Eastern?) goldfinch was for many years known unofficially as Minnesota's state bird.
Taxonomic Hierarchy of the Common Loon
| Kingdom |
Animalia -- animals |
| Phylum |
Chordata -- chordates |
| Subphylum |
Vertebrata -- vertebrates |
| Class |
Aves -- birds |
| Order |
Ciconiiformes -- albatrosses, alcids, auks, cormorants, diurnal birds of prey, eagles, falconiforms, falcons, flamingos, grebes, gulls, hawks, herons, ibises, loons, osprey, oystercatchers, pelicans, penguins, petrels, plovers, shearwaters, shore birds, storks, totipalmate swimmers, tube-nosed swimmers |
| Family |
Gaviidae -- loons |
| Genus |
Gavia Forster, 1788 -- loons |
| Species |
Gavia immer (Brunnich, 1764) -- Colimbo mayor, common loon |
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Official State Birds
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Bird:
a. Any of the class Aves of warm-blooded, egg-laying, feathered vertebrates with forelimbs modified to form wings.
b. Such an animal hunted as game.
c. Such an animal, especially a chicken or turkey, used as food
State Bird:
a. Bird selected (as by the legislature) as an emblem of a state of the United States.
NOTE: Many states have more than one official bird, or have designate state birds more specifically.
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