The official birds of South Carolina

Hello, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. Until 1948, the mocking bird was the official bird of South Carolina, and many other states. Those garden club ladies are not to be discounted, as they lobbied for our own year-round resident, the Carolina wren, to take the mocking bird’s place. Carolina wrens are famous for talking, and loudly, all day long, perhaps it was a little bit of poking fun at those famous legislators of old who could talk all day and also loudly. Birds are dear to South Carolinians hearts, and we have wild turkeys as our state game bird. And how about a state duck? Wood ducks have that title and are among a handful that live here all year. And, like a college student who comes home to visit, the prothonotary warbler is our state migratory bird.