State Emblems

State Bird

The Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher (Muscivora forficata), is a somewhat quiet bird with beautiful plumage and a long sleek tail that is twice as long as its body.  The deeply-forked tail resembles a pair of scissors. The Scissor Tailed Flycatcher has a black and white tail, a dark gray back, a light gray chest and head and has pale range red coloring beneath its wings.

State Floral Emblem

Mistletoe (phoradendron serotinum), the oldest of Oklahoma's symbols, was adopted in 1893 -- 14 years before statehood. Mistletoe grows on trees throughout the state and is particularly bountiful in the southern regions of Oklahoma. The dark green leaves and white berries show up brightly during the fall and winter in trees that have shed their own leaves.

The White Bass, also called a Sand Bass (Morone
shrysops), is dark blue-green on top, with silvery sides, a white belly and black horizontal stripes running along the length of its body.

The Redbud (Cercis canadensis) grows in the valleys and ravines of Oklahoma. In early spring, its reddish-pink blossoms brighten the landscape throughout the state.

Rose Rock (Barite rose) resembles full-grown roses and were formed by barite rock crystals during the Permian Age and are found in a few rare places around the globe. In Oklahoma, the distinctive red soil colors them in hues ranging from reddish brown to cinnamon. An old Cherokee legend says the rocks represent the blood of the braves and the tears of the maidens who made the devastating "Trail of Tears" journey in the 1800s to Oklahoma.

The Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) is a red flower with yellow tips. It symbolizes Oklahoma's scenic beauty as well as the state's Indian heritage. Indian Blanket flowers bloom in June and July.

State Colors - Green and White

 Text and photos from the 1997-1998 Oklahoma Almanac,
Oklahoma Department of Libraries.