The American Goldfinch is the State Bird of Washington. As described on the State’s website (URL below), “The goldfinch is a delicate little bird with a yellow body and black wings, and
although it eventually became the official state bird, many other birds were considered for the title. In 1928, legislators let school children select the state bird and the meadowlark won hands-down. It was a nice choice, but seven other states already had chosen the same bird. Another vote was taken in 1931 by the Washington Federation of Women’s Clubs. Many birds were nominated, but the goldfinch won handily over the tanager, song sparrow, junco and pileated woodpecker. Now there were two state birds and the Legislature decided to leave the final choice to school children. In 1951, children voted for the goldfinch and the Legislature made it unanimous.“
https://leg.wa.gov/Symbols/pages/default.aspx
https://wa.audubon.org/washington-state-bird#:~:text=The%20American%20Goldfinch%20was%20designated,in%20fields%2C%20bushes%20and%20trees.
https://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/american_goldfinch
https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol/washington/state-bird/willow-goldfinch-american-goldfinch
https://northwestprimetime.com/news/2022/apr/01/american-goldfinch/
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/american-goldfinch
http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/maps/wa/birds/WA_american_goldfinch.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_goldfinch
time-immemorial-tribal-sovereignty
Compared to the male goldfinch, the female’s appearance is
the same, difficult to tell apart
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Statehood, Constitutions and who owns the West: USFS & BLM
Washington State History