e-ReferenceDesk notes:
Commented Robert Lupp, Supervising Librarian, New Jersey Publications, State Library:
"Unfortunately, no information is available as to why the eastern goldfinch was chosen New Jersey's state bird. Neither the original bill nor the legislative journals (which do not record debate) provide a clue."
The American Goldfinch goes by the name Carduelis tristisbut it was reclassified to Spinus tristis.
The only state with the Willow Goldfinch as its state bird is Washington.The name Washington has 10 letters in it.
The American Goldfinch is considered a native of America, and can be found, from the east coast to the west coast. This also includes the southern part of Canada, and down into Mexico as well. The Lawrence's Goldfinch area is pretty small in comparison, mainly staying in parts of California, Arizona, and including some extreme southwestern parts of New Mexico.
Currently, there is no state with the puffin as its official state bird.
from New Jersey
An Eastern Goldfinch
The Eastern Goldfinch.
New Jerseys state bird is the Eastern Goldfinch. ----
Eastern Goldfinch (aka American Goldfinch)
American Goldfinch, not eastern. I don't know why. According to the encyclopedia the American and Eastern Goldfinch are the same species.
The official state bird of Iowa is the eastern goldfinch, also known as the American goldfinch (Spinus tristis), willow finch, or wild canary. It is also the state bird for the states of Washington and New Jersey.
eastern goldfinch
The Eastern Goldfinch.
The state flower of New Jersey is the Purple Violet. The state shell is the knobbed whelk. The state bird is the Eastern Goldfinch. The capital is Trenton. The state tree is the Red Oak.
The Iowa Legislature designated the Eastern Goldfinch as the official state bird in 1933. It was chosen as the state bird because it is commonly found in Iowa and often stays through the winter.
The American Goldfinch goes by the name Carduelis tristisbut it was reclassified to Spinus tristis.
Iowa's State Bird is the American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis, and may have been selected because of their similarity to the European goldfinch which the early immigrants were familiar with.