After nearly 250 years, bald eagle now official U.S. bird

U.S. President Joe Biden this week signed into a law a bipartisan bill designating the bald eagle as the official bird of the United States. Long a fixture of U.S. currency, buildings and insignias, the national bird now takes its place alongside the oak tree as the national tree and “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa as the national march. The announcement comes ahead of a U.S. semiquincentennial celebration planned for 2026.

Isn’t the bald eagle already ubiquitous as a national symbol? As a historic symbol, the bald eagle represents independence, strength, and freedom, according to the bill text. It was adopted as Coat of Arms for the United States Great Seal in 1782, and is featured on many other kinds of national imagery, including as the leading insignia for all branches of the military, and thousands of federal government branches.  

What about the birds themselves? The bill notes that the bald eagle is unique to North America, and has been held as sacred by many indigenous or tribal communities. The bald eagle population has recovered following conservation efforts coordinated between federal, state, and local governments, according to the bill text.