Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Many U.S. states have designated a "state raptor" or "state bird of prey." However, several states list birds that are not taxonomically raptors (order Accipitriformes/Falconiformes/Strigiformes). Below is the official designation for each state, with taxonomic notes.
| State | Designated Bird | True Raptor? |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Northern Bobwhite | No (quail, Galliformes) |
| Alaska | Golden Eagle | Yes |
| Arizona | Harris's Hawk | Yes |
| Arkansas | Swainson's Hawk | Yes |
| California | California Condor | Yes (New World vulture, Cathartiformes) |
| Colorado | Northern Goshawk | Yes |
| Connecticut | American Kestrel | Yes |
| Delaware | Northern Harrier | Yes |
| Florida | Bald Eagle | Yes |
| Georgia | Red-tailed Hawk | Yes |
| Idaho | American Bittern | No (heron, Pelecaniformes) |
| Illinois | Northern Harrier | Yes |
| Indiana | Northern Goshawk | Yes |
| Iowa | Northern Harrier | Yes |
| Kansas | Northern Harrier | Yes |
| Kentucky | Northern Bobwhite | No |
| Louisiana | Bald Eagle | Yes |
| Maine | Bald Eagle | Yes |
| Maryland | Northern Harrier | Yes |
| Massachusetts | American Kestrel | Yes |
| Michigan | Bald Eagle | Yes |
| Minnesota | Great Egret | No (heron) |
| Mississippi | Northern Bobwhite | No |
| Missouri | Northern Bobwhite | No |
| Montana | Golden Eagle | Yes |
| Nebraska | Northern Harrier | Yes |
| Nevada | Golden Eagle | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Bald Eagle | Yes |
| New Jersey | Northern Harrier | Yes |
| New Mexico | Great Horned Owl | Yes (Strigiformes) |
| New York | Bald Eagle | Yes |
| North Carolina | Red-tailed Hawk | Yes |
| North Dakota | Northern Harrier | Yes |
| Ohio | Northern Harrier | Yes |
| Oklahoma | American Kestrel | Yes |
| Oregon | Bald Eagle | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Northern Goshawk | Yes |
| Rhode Island | American Kestrel | Yes |
| South Carolina | Red-tailed Hawk | Yes |
| South Dakota | Northern Harrier | Yes |
| Tennessee | Red-tailed Hawk | Yes |
| Texas | Northern Bobwhite | No |
| Utah | Bald Eagle | Yes |
| Vermont | Northern Goshawk | Yes |
| Virginia | Red-tailed Hawk | Yes |
| Washington | Bald Eagle | Yes |
| West Virginia | Northern Goshawk | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Northern Goshawk | Yes |
| Wyoming | Northern Goshawk | Yes |
Note: 42 states designate true raptors; 8 (AL, ID, KY, MN, MS, MO, TX, and technically CA—Condor is Cathartiformes) designate non-raptors. Many states have separate "state bird" (often non-raptor) and "state raptor" designations.