After symbolizing the power and strength of the United States for over 240 years, the bald eagle has received formal recognition as the country’s national bird.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden signed legislation into law, officially amending the U.S. Code to designate the bald eagle as the national bird, a distinction many had long assumed was already in place.
Known for its white head, yellow beak, and brown body, the bald eagle has been a central figure in U.S. iconography since 1782, when it was featured on the Great Seal of the United States. The seal, which includes the eagle, an olive branch, arrows, a shield, the motto “E Pluribus Unum,” and a constellation of stars, has been used on official documents ever since.
While Congress designated the bald eagle as the national emblem in 1782, and its image appears on the presidential flag, military insignia, U.S. currency, and more, it was never officially declared the national bird until now.
Indigenous to North America, the bald eagle has become a widely recognized and enduring symbol of the nation.