In what year was the Yellowhammer officially designated as the state bird of Alabama?
Answer
1927
The formal recognition of the Yellowhammer (*Emberiza citrinella*) as the official state bird of Alabama occurred in the year 1927. This act solidified a symbolic status that was entirely based on cultural transfer, stemming from a wartime nickname given to Confederate soldiers. This designation is significant because it represents a human-imposed identity for the bird, one that is largely disconnected from its natural history or population status within the state itself, especially when contrasted with the serious conservation issues the species faces in other parts of its range, such as the United Kingdom.
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