The state bird of West Virginia is the cardinal. It ranges from 8 to 9 inches tall and weighs one to two ounces. Its colors are black, tan, and most of all red. It lives in the Eastern U.S.A. It sings a loud whistling song. Something that makes it unique is that it is a favorite among birds for its rich song and brilliant plumage. The scientific name for the cardinal is Cardinalis cardinalis. It was adopted by West Virginia on March 7, 1949. It was selected by West Virginia for its richness, its elegant movement, and its strong song.    


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The state flower of West Virginia is the Big Laurel. This flower is found in wet woods and swamps. The size of this plant is 40 to 50 inches. The size of the flower is 2.5 to 3 centimeters long. The colors are pale pink, white, red and yellow. Surprisingly the Big Laurel has no fragrance. The scientific name is Rhododendron Maximum. The year it was adopted was 1903. The way it was selected was the pupils in public schools voted on the flower.

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The state tree of West Virginia is the Sugar Maple. This tree is native to the hardwood forests of north-eastern North America. Its height goes up to 100 feet. The leaf is 3 to 6 inches long and is green on top and paler below. The bark description is generally grayish-brown. It has thick irregular curling outward ridges. Uses of the tree are to make furniture and maple syrup. The scientific name is Acer Sacchuram. The date adopted was March 7, 1949. The reason for selection was they authorized a vote by public school students and civic organizations to name the Sugar Maple as the state tree.

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This is about the flag of West Virginia. The color of the background is white, and the objects pictured are from the state seal. There are two men standing beside a rock. An event that relates to the flag is the rock showing the date June 20, 1863. This is the day West Virginia split from Virginia and was on its way to becoming a state. The two men represent farming and mining, which are two important jobs in West Virginia. The man on the left holds an axe and is standing near crops. The man on the right is holding a sickle and is standing near some minerals. Other objects pictured are two rifles and the Liberty Cap, which mean they’re ready to defend their freedom. We also see a ribbon, a banner and rhododendrons, the state flower. The state motto is written on the banner: Montani Semper Liberi, which means “mountaineers are always free.” (A mountaineer is a person who lives in the mountains.) The flag was adopted on February 24, 1905.   
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