Which of the following birds is recognised as the state bird of three Indian states, making it one of the most widely adopted state birds in the country?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to Indian wildlife and symbolism in civics. Many Indian states have officially chosen state birds, and some birds are shared by more than one state. The Indian roller, also popularly called blue jay in older books, is one such bird that has been adopted by multiple states. Knowing these symbolic associations is useful for both general knowledge and environment related questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about a bird that serves as the state bird for three Indian states.
• Options include several colourful and iconic birds such as hill mynah, Indian roller, greater flamingo and great hornbill.
• We assume the question refers to the traditional distribution of state bird designations, especially before newer states added or repeated choices.
• Only one option is widely documented as being the state bird for three different states.

Concept / Approach:
Indian roller is a bright blue bird found widely across the Indian subcontinent. It has been chosen as the state bird by multiple states because of its cultural and visual appeal. In many general knowledge compilations, Indian roller or blue jay is listed as the state bird of three states, typically Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Odisha, and in later updates more states have adopted it. Other birds in the options are important but are usually associated with one or two states rather than three at the same time.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which birds are commonly mentioned as state birds in India. Step 2: Remember that Indian roller (blue jay) appears repeatedly in lists for different states, including several southern and eastern states. Step 3: Compare this with hill mynah, which is a state bird for some states but not as widely shared as Indian roller. Step 4: Greater flamingo and great hornbill are important but usually linked to one or two states, not three. Step 5: Conclude that blue jay or Indian roller is the bird that has been officially adopted by three Indian states.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check this using standard exam oriented tables of national symbols and state symbols. These tables show that Indian roller features as the state bird of multiple states. The repeated listing of the same bird for several states distinguishes it from others like greater flamingo or great hornbill, which are more limited in such tables. This pattern confirms that Indian roller is the correct choice here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Hill mynah is indeed a state bird but does not typically appear as the state bird for three different states in the same standard references.
Greater flamingo is a notable wetland bird but is not widely used as a state bird across several states.
Great hornbill is the state bird for some northeastern and southern states, yet it is not commonly counted as the state bird of three states in older exam material.
Sarus crane is another important bird and a state bird, but again it is not repeatedly listed for three separate states in the usual general knowledge sources.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often get confused because several birds appear as state birds, and some are used by more than one state. Another pitfall is focusing only on personal familiarity with birds from one region. To avoid confusion, it helps to memorise a short list of widely shared state symbols; Indian roller being a state bird of multiple states is one such high frequency fact that examiners like to test.

Final Answer:
The bird that is recognised as the state bird of three Indian states is the blue jay (Indian roller).