The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability
BILL: SB 918
INTRODUCER: Senator Calatayud
SUBJECT: American Flamingo
DATE: January 12, 2024 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Limones-Borja McVaney GO Favorable
2. FP
3. RC
I. Summary:
SB 918 designates the American flamingo as the official state bird of Florida. This designation
supersedes the designation of the mockingbird as the state bird of Florida.
The bill is not expected to impact on state or local government revenues and expenditures.
This bill takes effect upon becoming a law.
II. Present Situation:
State Symbols
Chapter 15, F.S., contains all of the Florida state symbols. To date, there are designations for a
state motto,1 tree,2 fruit,3 beverage,4 citrus archive,5 anthem,6 song,7 shell,8 stone,9 gem,10
1
Section 15.0301, F.S.
2
Section 15.031, F.S.
3
Section 15.0315, F.S.
4
Section 15.032, F.S.
5
Section 15.0325, F.S.
6
Section 15.0326, F.S.
7
Section 15.0327, F.S.
8
Section 15.033, F.S.
9
Section 15.0336, F.S.
10
Section 15.034, F.S.
BILL: SB 918 Page 2
wildflower,11 play,12 animal,13 freshwater fish,14 saltwater fish,15 marine mammal,16 saltwater
mammal,17 butterfly,18 reptile,19 saltwater reptile,20 tortoise,21 air fair,22 rodeo,23 festival,24
moving image center and archive,25 litter control symbol,26 pageant,27 opera program,28
renaissance festival,29 railroad museums,30 history museum,31 transportation museum,32
flagship,33 soil,34 fiddle contest,35 band,36 sports hall of fame,37 pie,38 honey,39 dessert,40 horse,41
and heritage cattle breed.42
State Bird
The Florida state bird is the mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). The mockingbird was designated
the state bird in 1927 by the Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 3. Florida shares the state
bird with Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.43 The mockingbird is technically referred
to as the Northern Mockingbird as it is the only one native to the United States.44
11
Section 15.0345, F.S.
12
Section 15.035, F.S.
13
Section 15.0353, F.S.
14
Section 15.036, F.S.
15
Section 15.037, F.S.
16
Section 15.038, F.S.
17
Id.
18
Section 15.0382, F.S.
19
Section 15.0385, F.S.
20
Section 15.0386, F.S.
21
Section 15.03861, F.S.
22
Section 15.039, F.S.
23
Section 15.0391, F.S.
24
Section 15.0395, F.S.
25
Section 15.0396, F.S.
26
Section 15.041, F.S.
27
Section 15.043, F.S.
28
Section 15.044, F.S.
29
Section 15.0445, F.S.
30
Section 15.045, F.S.
31
Section 15.0455, F.S.
32
Section 15.046, F.S.
33
Section 15.0465, F.S.
34
Section 15.047, F.S.
35
Section 15.048, F.S.
36
Section 15.049, F.S.
37
Section 15.051, F.S.
38
Section 15.052, F.S.
39
Section 15.0521, F.S.
40
Section 15.0522, F.S.
41
Section 15.0526, F.S.
42
Section 15.0527, F.S.
43
Department of State, State Bird, available at https://dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-
bird/#:~:text=Senate%20Concurrent%20Resolution%20No.,Mississippi%2C%20Tennessee%2C%20and%20Texas. (last
visited Jan. 10, 2023).
44
Audubon, 10 Fun Facts About the Northern Mockingbird (Oct. 30, 2019), available at https://www.audubon.org/news/10-
fun-facts-about-northern-mockingbird (last visited Jan. 10, 2023).
BILL: SB 918 Page 3
Flamingo
The American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is one of the largest species of flamingo. The
American flamingo is generally found throughout the Caribbean Islands and along the northern
coast of South America.45 In Florida, American flamingos have been observed along much of the
state’s coast; however, outside of Hialeah, more than 95% of observations have occurred within
the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, and the Florida Keys. In addition, flamingos are increasingly
being reported in the shallow treatment wetlands created along the northern fringe of the
Everglades. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission considers flamingos native to
Florida and treats them as native species protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty
Act.46
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Section 1 creates s. 15.0352, F.S., to designate the American flamingo the official state bird of
Florida.
Section 2 states that this designation supersedes the designation of the mockingbird as the
Florida state bird.
Section 3 provides that the bill will take effect upon becoming a law.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
Not applicable. The bill does not require counties and municipalities to spend funds,
reduce the counties’ or municipalities’ ability to raise revenue, or reduce the percentage
of state tax shared with counties or municipalities.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
45
Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, American flamingo, available at
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-flamingo (last visited Jan. 10, 2023).
46
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, American flamingo, available at
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/waterbirds/american-
flamingo/#:~:text=Conservation%20and%20Management&text=A%20growing%20body%20of%20evidence,Federal%20Mi
gratory%20Bird%20Treaty%20Act. (last visited Jan. 11, 2023).
 BILL: SB 918 Page 4
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
None.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 15.0352 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.