1

Hoosier

Image: Corbin Mathias

Until recently, the United States Government Publishing Office (or USGPO) still recommended Indianian as the demonym for the state of Indiana, but its residents have been calling themselves Hoosiers for nearly two centuries. While no one really knows where the term originated, it was popularized by John Finley’s poem "The Hoosier's Nest", and Indiana has long been known as "The Hoosier State".

2

Bay Stater

Image: Pascal Bernardon

The USGPO might recommend the use of Massachusettsan , but the people of Massachussets strongly disagree. State laws and regulations officially refer to its residents as Bay Staters , after a common nickname for the state. Given that Massachusetts is formally a Commonwealth, the law also uses the phrase Citizen of the Commonwealth , but it's kind of a mouthful for everyday purposes. We’ll stick with Bay Stater.

3

Accidental

Image: Jeff McLain

One of the earliest settlements in Maryland, the town of Accident is not very big, but it makes up for it with its peculiar name. Naturally, the corresponding demonym for its residents is Accidental , though some sources also claim that the citizens of Accident are to be called Accidents .

4

Granite Stater

Image: Mark König

Much like Bay Staters, the residents of New Hampshire tend to disagree with the USGPO when it comes to their demonym. The official version is New Hampshirite (for the Federal Government, at least ), but locals favor the term Granite Stater , derived from New Hampshire’s nickname, "The Granite State".

5

Truth-or-Consequencesan

Image: Lachlan Donald

When the town of Hot Springs, New Mexico, decided to change its name to Truth or Consequences for a radio show contest, they either forgot to consider their new demonym or didn’t really care. While they are technically Truth-or-Consequencesans , they refer to the town as T or C, so they say that they are Residents of T or C .

6

Phoenician

Image: iStrfry , Marcus

Weren’t the Phoenicians an ancient civilization that created the earliest form of our alphabet? Yes, but those lived in ancient Phoenicia. The Phoenicians we are talking about are the residents of Phoenix, Arizona. Some claim that Zoner and Zonan are also common nicknames, but those could be used for any Arizona resident.

7

Nutmegger

Image: julio angel berroa

Connecticut might be officially known as "The Constitution State", but it’s also called "The Nutmeg State". The origin of this nickname varies according to the sources, but most point to a common scam where Connecticut peddlers would sell wooden nutmegs as the real thing. No matter the story, many Connecticut residents favor the demonym Nutmegger over the USGPO-recommended Connecticuter .

8

Yoopers

Image: Brad Switzer

Let’s be frank, some of the less-used variants for Michigan’s demonym sound really funny: think Michiganese , Michigine , and Michigoose (as a female version for Michi_gander_). But official names aside, residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula commonly refer to themselves as Yoopers , a derivative of U.P. (Upper Peninsula). Rumor has it that they call those from the Lower Peninsula Trolls , because they live ‘under the bridge’, but we can’t attest to this being true.

9

Jayhawk

Image: Nils Huenerfuerst

Nowadays, Jayhawk is a common way to refer to residents from Kansas, but this term didn’t always have a positive connotation. Its original form, Jayhawker, used to refer to thieves, and was used derogatively by Confederates to talk about the anty-slavery militias from Kansas. After the Civil War, Kansans appropriated the term as a memento of their state’s contributions to the war.

10

Lanstronaut

Image: Mick Haupt

Officially, if you live in Lansing, Michigan, you are a Lansingite . However, many Lansing residents have taken to using the term Lanstronaut in recent years, despite Lansing having more to do with the car industry than with space.

1

American Goldfinch

If you’ve spotted a drop of sunshine landing on your feeder sometime in the summer, that’s the American Goldfinch. Males turn a vivid yellow each year thanks to a complete molt, usually finished by late May.

They’re found coast-to-coast but are especially common in the northern and central U.S., where they favor open meadows and backyard thistle feeders. Unlike most songbirds, they nest late, often waiting until July when thistle seeds peak. If you see a tiny bird—barely 5 inches long—bouncing through the air in a roller-coaster flight pattern, you’ve found the American Goldfinch.

2

Blue Jay

Blue Jays are known for being loud, confident, and colorful. Throughout the eastern half of the U.S., from Florida to Maine, they flash electric-blue wings marked with black "bar codes." Their blue color is actually a light trick: microscopic feather structures scatter wavelengths to create the hue. Another fun fact: back in the 1970s, researchers discovered they can mimic hawks, a clever way to scare other birds away from food.

3

American Robin

Long before digital calendars, people guessed the seasons thanks to this bird. The American Robin’s spring chorus has been recorded in journals as early as the 1800s, marking the end of winter across most of the U.S. They’re widespread, found in all lower 48 states and even in Alaska during summer. Robins stand upright, tugging worms from lawns with that unmistakable rusty-orange chest. Adults measure about 10 inches long, roughly the size of a small paperback book.

4

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

If you’ve ever seen a green flash zip past your porch faster than a camera shutter, it may have been a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. It is the only hummingbird species that breeds east of the Mississippi. It weighs 0.2 ounces—as little as a nickel!—yet crosses the Gulf of Mexico during migration. Males display an iridescent red throat that lights up when sunlight hits at the perfect angle. A single feeder with a simple sugar solution can lure them in from May through September.

5

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinals look like Christmas on wings, and it’s easy to see why. Males glow bright red, while females wear warm browns brushed with hints of red. They live year-round in the eastern and central U.S., especially in woodlots and suburban yards. Cardinals measure about 9 inches long and crack seeds with thick, powerful bills. Their "what-cheer!" call is one of the most recognized bird sounds in North America.

6

Song Sparrow

At first glance, this little brown bird might look like one of many, but listen closely. Song Sparrows have been studied for their remarkable vocal variety; a single male may sing more than 10 distinct song types. They’re common nationwide, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but differ subtly by region. They’re small—around 6 inches—but their voice carries surprisingly far.

7

Black-Capped Chickadee

A bird the size of a tennis ball—about 0.3 ounces—with the confidence of a much larger creature: that’s the Black-capped Chickadee. They have a surprisingly sophisticated communication system. In fact, biologists discovered that the number of "dee" notes in their call changes depending on the threat level of predators.

Found across the northern U.S. and in the Rockies and Appalachians, they sport crisp black caps and snow-white cheeks. Offer sunflower seeds, and they’ll visit you all winter.

8

Northern Mockingbird

What if one bird could perform an entire playlist? Northern Mockingbirds—common throughout the South, Midwest, and many western suburbs— can mimic over 100 sounds, from other birds to squeaky gates. In the 1960s, scientists confirmed their habit of singing at night, especially males guarding territory.

They’re roughly 10 inches long, the size of a stretched-out flashlight. Their slender gray bodies and white wings make them easy to spot when they swoop from fence posts.

9

Baltimore Oriole

The Baltimore Oriole can be described as "a flame carried by wings", since males sport brilliant orange while females show softer yellows.

These bright orange migrants breed across the Northeast and Midwest before wintering in Central America. Their hanging pouch nests—up to 8 inches deep—are woven with fibers like tiny hammocks swaying in the breeze. Orioles love tall shade trees and can hang upside down to sip nectar or jelly.

10

American Crow

Think of crows as neighborhood detectives. Studies show they can recognize human faces and remember them for years. Found in every U.S. state except Hawaii, American Crows are large—about 17 inches long—and solid black from bill to tail. Their aerial circling and communal roosts, sometimes numbering thousands, are especially common in the Midwest. They travel in family groups and announce their presence with a clear "caw!"

11

Black-billed Magpie

If you’ve ever driven through the Rockies or the Great Plains, you’ve likely seen this striking bird swooping low over fields. Black-billed Magpies, common from Nevada to the Dakotas, wear glossy black feathers with a blue-green sheen and long tails that can reach 12 inches—nearly half their total length. Their dome-shaped stick nests can be 3 feet across, and they thrive in open country and ranchlands.

12

Tufted Titmouse

One of the most charming feeder visitors in the eastern U.S., the Tufted Titmouse has a soft gray coat, a tiny crest, and warm orange patches under the wings. Though small—around 6.5 inches—they have a bold, ringing call: peter-peter-peter . Their range has expanded steadily northward, partly thanks to backyard feeders. Another fun fact: titmice store seeds one by one in tree bark, creating "pantries" they revisit all winter.

1

Skip Air Force One

Beyond the wishes of any president, flying on a commercial airline is completely forbidden under any circumstances. Due to security concerns, Air Force One is meant to be the only way a president can travel by air. But there is actually a historic exception in this matter. In 1973, during the oil crisis, Richard Nixon flew on a regular United Airlines flight to California . The trip was meant to show support for energy-saving efforts nationwide.

2

Break the two-term rule

Did you know that before Franklin D. Roosevelt, presidents were not limited to two terms? They mostly followed a tradition started by George Washington, the first US president in 1789, who decided to step down after his second term. It wasn’t until the 22nd Amendment in 1951 that two terms became the official legal limit to moderate the accumulation of power in one person.

Roosevelt, who was president from 1933 to 1945 , was the only president to break that tradition because of the country's exceptional situation: During the Great Depression and World War II, many Americans wanted solid leadership. He ended up winning four elections, but died of a stroke in 1945 during his fourth term.

3

Take diplomatic gifts home

Presidents have to buy their own gifts? Truth is, they can receive gifts from foreign leaders, but they cannot always keep them as personal presents. If a gift is expensive enough to go over the government’s "minimal value" limit, it is treated as a gift to the American people. From there, the White House Gift Unit helps decide what happens to it. In fact, the president or First Lady can still keep the gift, but only if they buy it at fair market value. This rule exists so that a diplomatic gift does not appear to be a personal favor.

4

Own their official speeches

A president can stand at a podium and deliver a speech heard around the world, but that does not mean he is the private author of those words. Under U.S. copyright law, official presidential speeches are usually considered part of the public record because they are part of the job. That means people can quote them, share them, and reuse them more freely than a normal copyrighted text. You could say that the speech belongs less to the president and more to the country.

5

Enjoy a simple breeze

Picture the president’s reaction on his first day of office when he is advised that he is prohibited from opening windows. The White House and presidential vehicles keep their windows sealed to prevent the president from being attacked.

Michelle Obama once shared that there was one small break from those strict rules . During a short drive to Camp David, her Secret Service agent allowed her to open the car windows for a few minutes. She later described it as a feeling of normal people's luxury.

6

Block followers from official pages

What about the president’s digital life? Technology advances quickly, and presidential security must keep up; presidents cannot simply use personal social media without being monitored. In 2018, a federal judge ruled that a president cannot block people from official social media spaces, because those accounts can be treated as public forums. So even online, presidents have some restrictions to follow.

7

Hit the road by themselves

While in office, presidents and vice presidents are not allowed to drive on open roads. What’s more, the Secret Service must control their transportation in real time . There are some exceptions, though: inside personal properties, and in places like Camp David, they can drive, walk, and even ride a bike.

8

Throw away their own papers

Presidents also cannot treat their office like a normal workspace. Under the Presidential Records Act, letters, notes, and emails may count as official records. That means presidents are discouraged from simply cleaning up or throwing mail away on their own. Instead, White House staff must sort everything carefully first, so no important piece of history ends up in the trash by accident.

9

Join normal family outings

Imagine the scene of the president casually arriving at his child’s school one morning. As we would assume, there are security restrictions that prevent presidents from attending a child or grandchild's concert or sporting event. These restrictions affect the entire First Family, but they also keep everyday situations from turning chaotic.

10

Scroll through a normal inbox

Even the president’s inbox has personal security. People can send a message to the president online, but it does not go straight to a personal email account; it actually goes through the official White House contact form first. Then staff members read it, sort it, and decide where it should go. Since presidential emails can become part of the public record, they must be saved and handled carefully.