What should your state's bird be?

[rinaturalist]

As a Rhode Islander, I think that the great black-backed gull is better than the Rhode Island red hen. Chickens are native to Southeast Asia, and gulls are, of course, native here. We’re called the ocean state for a reason, and gulls are very fitting. Ospreys (which I think are the better candidate) and ruby-throated hummingbirds were a possible state bird, but were beaten by the chicken in a vote. That being said, I think that the Rhode Island red does give our overlooked state more publicity, as it is one of the more common breeds of poultry.