AMPHIBIAN - Green Tree Frog

Often found near lakes, ponds, and swamps in Central and Southern Georgia, the Green Tree Frog is known for its ability to change color depending on lighting conditions and temperature. The Tree Frog can often be seen by porch lights looking for food or resting on plants in the daytime beside ponds. The Green Tree Frog was chosen as Georgia's state amphibian in 2006.

BIRD - Brown Thrasher

The brown thrasher was first chosen as the state bird by official proclamation of the Governor in 1935 and in 1970 it was designated by the Legislature as the official state bird. The brown thrasher is commonly found in the eastern section of the United States, ranging north to Canada and west to the Rockies. The bird migrates to the North in the summer and spends its winters in the Southern states.

Almost a foot in length, the thrasher has a long, curved bill and a very long tail. It has two prominent white wing bars, a rich brown color on its top side, and a creamy white breast heavily streaked with brown.

BUTTERFLY - Tiger Swallowtail

The tiger swallowtail, proclaimed the state butterfly in 1988, is one of Georgia's most beautiful species of Lepidoptera. This magnificent butterfly has large yellow wings edged and striped with black. The resolution designating a state butterfly was inspired by Mrs. Deen Day Smith, president of The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc., who donated funds to build the Day Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens.

CROP - Peanut

The General Assembly selected the peanut to be the official state crop in 1995. Georgia produces nearly 50 percent of the total United States peanut crop and more than 50 percent of peanuts used in the production of peanut butter. Georgia leads the nation in peanut exports.

FISH - Largemouth Bass

The largemouth bass was designated the official state fish in 1970. Some of the best and most picturesque fishing waters of the United States are found in Georgia, and pursuit of the largemouth bass is widely popular. The World Record Largemouth Bass was caught in Georgia in 1932 and weighed 22 pounds 4 ounces. This record stands to this day.

FLAG

On May 8, 2003, Governor Sonny Perdue signed H.B. 380 creating a new state flag for Georgia.

Georgia's new state flag is based on the first national flag of the Confederacy (the "Stars and Bars") and consists of a field of three horizontal bars of equal width, two red separated by a white bar in the center. In the upper left corner is a square blue canton the width of two bars. In the center of the canton is a circle of 13 white stars, symbolizing Georgia and the other 12 original states that formed the United States of America. Within the circle of stars is Georgia's coat of arms (the central design on the state seal) immediately above the words "In God We Trust" -- both in gold.

FLOWER - Cherokee Rose

In 1916, with the support of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs, the Cherokee rose was named the state floral emblem. The name "Cherokee rose" is a local designation derived from the Cherokee Indians who widely distributed the plant.

The rose is excessively thorny and generously supplied with leaves of a vivid green. In color, it is waxy white with a large golden center. Blooming time is in the early spring, but favorable conditions will produce, in the fall of the year, a second flowering of this hardy plant.

FOSSIL - Shark Tooth

In 1976, the shark tooth was designated the official state fossil. Probably one of the most sought-after fossils by amateur collectors, the shark tooth is a relatively common fossil in the Georgia coastal plain. In fossil form, the shark tooth can be traced back 375,000,000 years. Fossilized shark teeth are found in a range of colors - from the more common blacks and grays to whites, browns, blues, and reddish browns.

FRESHWATER FISH - Brook Trout

A popular fish with fly-fishers, The Brook Trout can commonly be found in Northern Georgia in the Appalachian Mountains. The trout's dependence on pure water habitats also makes it a powerful barometer for the effects of pollution on bodies of water. The Brook Trout was chosen as Georgia's Freshwater Fish in 2006.

FRUIT - Peach

Georgia-grown peaches are recognized for their superior flavor, texture, appearance, and nutritious qualities that promote a healthy, balanced diet. Georgia is known as the "Peach State" because of the growers's reputation for producing the highest quality fruit. The peach became the official state fruit in 1995.

GAME BIRD - Bobwhite Quail

In 1970, the bobwhite quail was chosen as the official state game bird. Quail hunting in Georgia has long been popular with sportsmen around the world, and our state is often recognized as the "Quail Capital of the World." The quail can withstand a loss of two thirds of its population with no reduction in the spring breeding population.

GEM - Quartz

In 1976, quartz was chosen as the official state gem. It is common in Georgia and found in a wide variety of colors. The resolution making quartz the state gem cited two particular forms; the amethyst, which is mostly used in jewelry, and the clear quartz, which, when faceted, resembles the diamond.

INSECT - Honeybee

In 1975, the honeybee was named the official state insect. The honeybee has a highly specialized labor force, an elaborate social structure, an astounding communications system and a well-fed population. It is a member of the great insect family Apoidea, which includes 20,000 species; among them bumblebees and carpenter bees. The honeybee makes an important contribution to Georgia's economy through its production of honey and aids agriculture by cross-pollinating over 50 of our state's crops.

MARINE MAMMAL - Right Whale

After it was discovered that Georgia's coastal waters were a calving area for the right whale, this endangered species became the state marine mammal in 1985. The right whale grows up to 50 feet long, has no dorsal fin and bears distinctive patches of whitish bumps on its head. It is the only great whale that is native to Georgia waters.

MINERAL - Staurolite

In 1976, staurolite was named the official state mineral. Georgia has a wealth of minerals, among them staurolite crystals, popularly called "Fairy Crosses" or "Fairy Stones." Particularly abundant in north Georgia, the distinctively twinned, crossed crystals have been collected for generations as good luck charms.

NICKNAME - The Peach State

Most commonly known as the "Peach State," the Georgia General Assembly has never designated an official nickname for the state. Unofficially, there are several nicknames for Georgia: "Empire State of the South," "Cracker State," "Goober State," "Buzzard State," and "Yankee Land of the South."

REPTILE - Gopher Tortoise

Designated the state reptile in 1989, the gopher tortoise is one of the oldest living species native to Georgia. The gopher tortoise belongs to a group of land tortoises that originated in North America 60 million years ago.

This tortoise digs burrows up to 40 feet wide and 10 feet deep providing year-round shelter from predators and inclement weather and for more that three dozen other animal species.

The gopher tortoise population is in decline and soon may not exist outside of protected areas.

SEASHELL - Knobbed Whelk

Christened the state seashell in 1987, the knobbed whelk is a whorled shell, eight inches long at maturity, displaying heavy spines, many knobs, and an orange or red mouth. Minerals in Georgia coastal waters cause ocher striations on the sand colored, semi-gloss surface. This marine snail shell is found all along Georgia's shoreline, out to 30 feet of water.

SONG - "Georgia On My Mind"

On April 24, 1979, "Georgia On My Mind," with music by Hoagy Carmichael and lyrics by Stuart Gorrell, was designated Georgia's official state song. It was performed on March 7, 1979 before a joint meeting of the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives by Georgia-born recording artist Ray Charles.

TREE - Live Oak

In 1937, the live oak was adopted as the official tree at the request of the Edmund Burke Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

It flourishes along the coastal plains and on the islands where the first settlers made their early homes. Many famous Georgians, as early as General James Edward Oglethorpe, were able to enjoy its beauty.

VEGETABLE - Vidalia Onion

Grown properly only in a small pocket of south Georgia, the Vidalia onion matures into unsurpassed sweetness in the spring. In one of nature's most delicious mysteries, the granex seed, which produces a hot onion elsewhere, grows into an onion one "can eat like an apple" in the fields around Vidalia and Glennville. The bill designating the Vidalia onion as the official state vegetable was enacted by the General Assembly in 1990.

WILDFLOWER - Azalea

In 1979, the azalea was chosen as Georgia's state wildflower. Many species and varieties are found across Georgia. A hardy species, they possess vibrant colored flowers blooming from March until August.