Learn English with U.S. State Symbols: Birds, Flowers, and Mottos

Did you know that every U.S. state has its own official bird, flower, and motto? These symbols appear everywhere—in schools, on license plates, in museums—and they’re surprisingly useful for learning English vocabulary.

This article covers practical words for describing nature (birds, plants) and short phrases (mottos) that show up in American culture. Along the way, you’ll pick up vocabulary that works in everyday conversations, not just textbooks.

For a complete list of symbols by state, check out this USA Symbol reference guide.

What Are State Symbols?

A state symbol is something official that represents a U.S. state—similar to a national flag, but for a smaller region.

Common types include state birds, state flowers, state trees, and state mottos. You’ll encounter these in school textbooks, museums, tourism materials, and government websites.

Vocabulary From State Birds

State birds give you a reason to learn words you’d otherwise skip in a dictionary:

Colors: red, blue, golden, brown
Body parts: wings, beak, feathers
Actions: fly, sing, hunt, migrate
Habitats: forest, wetland, prairie, coast

Words worth knowing:

• feathers — the soft covering of birds
• beak — the bird’s mouth
• wingspan — the width of wings when open
• migrate — move to another place seasonally
• songbird — a bird known for singing

Try these sentences:

• “The state bird has bright red feathers.”
• “This bird migrates south in winter.”
• “It is a common songbird in the eastern forests.”

Vocabulary From State Flowers

Flowers and plants bring their own set of useful words:

• petal — the colored part of a flower
• stem — the part that holds the flower upright
• bloom — when a flower opens
• wildflower — a flower that grows naturally
• fragrance — a pleasant smell

Try these sentences:

• “The state flower blooms in early spring.”
• “It has yellow petals and a sweet fragrance.”

Understanding State Mottos

A motto is a short phrase expressing values or identity. Some are in English (“Live free or die”), others in Latin (“E pluribus unum”).

Learning tip: Treat mottos like mini-quotes. Learn them as complete phrases rather than word-by-word.

Practice patterns:

• “This motto means ____.”
• “It represents the value of ____.”

A Template for Describing Any Symbol

Here’s a simple structure you can reuse:

1. Name: The state symbol is _______.
2. Type: It is a _______ (bird/flower/tree).
3. Description: It has _______ (color/size/shape).
4. Meaning: It represents _______.
5. Fun fact: It became official in _______.

Quick Quiz

Q1: What does “bloom” mean?
a) to fly b) to open (flower) c) to hunt

Q2: What is a “motto”?
a) a flag b) a short phrase c) a tree

Q3: What does “migrate” mean?
a) sleep b) move seasonally c) eat seeds

(Answers: 1-B, 2-B, 3-B)

What’s Next?

Pick one or two states and read about their symbols. Try describing them out loud using the template above. Once that feels easy, move on to more states—you’ll be surprised how much vocabulary sticks when there’s a story behind it.