Michigan Now Has an Official State Duck

Michigan previously had 17 official state symbols and has now added an 18th: an official state duck. It is now one of only two states that recognize a state duck.

State Symbols of Michigan

Michigan designates state symbols to build a distinct identity, highlight its natural heritage, support education, and honor its past. These symbols also encourage conservation, recognize important industries such as lumber and tourism, and strengthen state pride, with many adopted from the late 1800s through the early 2000s.

Below is a list of state symbols for Michigan and the years they were adopted:

• Coat of Arms - 1835
• Motto - 1835 - "If you see a pleasant peninsula, look about you."
• Seal - Great Seal of the State of Michigan - 1835
• Flower - Apple Blossom - 1897
• Flag - 1911
• Bird - American Robin - 1931
• Song - "My Michigan" - 1937
• Tree - Eastern White Pine - 1955
• Stone - Petoskey Stone - 1965
• Gem - Isle Royale Greenstone - 1972
• Fish - Brook Trout - 1988
• Soil - Kalkaska Soil Series - 1990
• Reptile - Painted Turtle - 1995
• Game Mammal - White-Tailed Deer - 1997
• Wildflower - Dwarf Lake Iris - 1998
• Fossil - Mastodon - 2002
• Native grain - Manoomin - 2023

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Michigan has officially added its 18th state symbol: a designated state duck.

Michigan Names Official State Duck in New Decision

Michigan is home to a wide variety of duck species, including mallards, wood ducks, buffleheads, redheads, common goldeneyes, hooded mergansers, ring-necked ducks, American black ducks, long-tailed ducks, red-breasted mergansers, blue-winged teal, northern pintails, gadwalls, American wigeons, and canvasbacks.

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Many of these species can be seen along Michigan’s Great Lakes shorelines, as well as its rivers and inland lakes, with certain species arriving in winter when open water remains available.

Only one duck could be selected as the state’s official duck. According to FOX 2, the Michigan Senate approved the wood duck as the state’s first official duck with a 30–4 vote.

The wood duck was selected for its remarkable conservation success, having rebounded from near extinction in the early 20th century, when habitat loss and overhunting took a heavy toll, to a population of more than 100,000 in the state today.

Michigan has joined Mississippi as one of only two states to have an official state duck, with both choosing the wood duck.

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