State
Bird
Ruffed Grouse
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The
ruffed grouse lives in forests in the northern half of North America.
It has a thick collar of black feathers around its neck, a crested
head, and a brown or gray fan-shaped tail. Adults are about 17 inches
long. The male will drum its tail against a log to attract a mate
and raise its crest when it is alarmed. They usually make their
nests at the foot of a tree and cover them with leaves and twigs.
The nest may contain 9 to 14 eggs. The female makes a cooing or
clucking noise. The ruffed grouse became Pennsylvania's state bird
in 1931.
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State
Flower
Mountain Laurel
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Mountain
laurel is a native plant of eastern North America. It is sometimes
seen as a shrub but can grow as high as 30 feet. It is an evergreen
plant with wide leaves and pink or white flowers that have purple
marks. They grow in clusters in forests and fields and have a wonderful
fragrance. The leaves and nectar of the mountain laurel plant are
poisonous. It became Pennsylvania's state flower in 1933.
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State
Tree
Hemlock
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The eastern hemlock is an evergreen tree that grows in the forests
of North America, Japan, and China. It has a pyramid-shaped crown
and droopy branches with soft needles. Cones grow on this tree,
and tannic acid comes from the bark. It is used for producing leather.
The soft wood is used for building frames and clapboards. The Eastern
or Canadian hemlock can grow to 60 or 70 feet and may live up to
800 years. It became Pennsylvania's state tree in 1931.
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State
Flag
Click on flag for larger view.
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The
Pennsylvania flag is dark blue. In the center it has a shield with
the coat of arms. Two black draft horses (or work horses), standing
on their hind legs, are holding the shield up. The shield has three
parts. In the upper part there is a ship. It represents the large
amounts of trade Pennsylvania made over its long history. The plow
stands for the tools they have used for farming. The wheat represents
the wealth from lots of plentiful harvests. Above the shield there
is an eagle, representing the United States. There is an olive branch
(a symbol of peace) on one side and a corn stalk on the other. The
corn stalk is a symbol of one of Pennsylvania's most important crops.
There is a red ribbon bearing the motto:
Virtue, Liberty and Independence. The motto names three things that
are very important in Pennsylvania. Virtue means goodness; liberty
means freedom; and independence means able to survive on your own
without the control of others. This flag was adopted in 1907.
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