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Miami’s Unofficial Mascot: The Humble Rooster
Miami is known for its vibrant wildlife, from flamingos to pelicans. But lately, it’s the roosters, hens, and chicks that are stealing the show.
These feathered families are as at home among the downtown high-rises as they are in the residential areas of Little Havana, Little Haiti, and Wynwood. While some residents find their crowing a nuisance, many have embraced the rooster as an unofficial city mascot.
A Cultural Connection
According to Paul George, resident historian at HistoryMiami Museum, the chickens are deeply tied to Miami’s immigrant history. For decades, families from Cuba and other parts of Latin America, where raising chickens is common, have kept these birds in their backyards. About 20 years ago, George started noticing their feral relatives venturing into public spaces.
Symbol of Little Havana
While wild chickens can be found throughout Florida and in other U.S. cities, Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood formally adopted the rooster as a symbol in 2002. Six-foot fiberglass rooster statues, created by the late artist Pedro Damián, were installed along Calle Ocho (8th Street) to celebrate the area’s unique culture. These colorful statues remain a popular tourist attraction today.
Jakelin Llaguna, owner of a souvenir shop on Calle Ocho, says the community adores the birds, which can often be seen foraging in parks and around businesses. “The neighbors have welcomed them,” Llaguna explains.
“Nobody messes with them, they’re our mascot.” She sees the rooster’s sunrise crowing as a symbol of renewal, echoing the new beginnings Cuban immigrants found in Little Havana after the revolution.
Her store is stocked with rooster-themed merchandise, a testament to the bird’s popularity.
An Uncertain Future
The growing rooster population may soon face competition from invasive peacocks that have established themselves in nearby communities like Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. These larger, more aggressive birds could pose a threat.
However, a more pressing concern is gentrification. As older homes are replaced with luxury condos, George worries that new residents may not tolerate the birds’ early morning calls.
He fears increased pressure on city officials to enforce existing poultry ordinances, which are currently ambiguous and inconsistently applied.
Despite these challenges, the roosters have their supporters. Little Havana resident Donato Ramos Martínez enjoys their presence and even feeds them regularly.
He sees the rooster as a charming, iconic part of the neighborhood and doesn’t understand why anyone would object to them. For him, and many others, the rooster embodies the spirit of Miami: vibrant, resilient, and a little bit unruly.