The National Bird of the USA Wasn't the Bald Eagle Until 2024

The bald eagle, scientifically known as Haliaeetus leucocephalus, is a large bird of prey native to North America. Adult bald eagles are easy to recognize by their dark brown body, white head and tail feathers, and bright yellow beak.

Long before becoming the official national bird, the bald eagle was already central to U.S. identity. The bird appears on the Great Seal of the United States, adopted in 1782, where it holds an olive branch and arrows to represent peace and war.

Over time the image of the eagle spread across American life. It appears on currency, government buildings, military uniforms, and the Presidential Seal. These images helped make the bald eagle one of the most recognizable national symbols in the world.

For centuries Americans widely treated the bald eagle as the country's national bird even though it had never been formally designated in law. That changed after legislation inspired by eagle enthusiast Preston Cook gained support in Congress.

Lawmakers passed a bipartisan bill to officially designate the bald eagle as the nation's official bird. The Senate approved the measure by unanimous consent before it passed through the House of Representatives.

When President Biden signed the law in December 2024, the bald eagle finally gained formal status as the national bird of the United States. The move recognized what Americans had already believed for generations.

The bald eagle has long held spiritual importance among many Native American tribes. In numerous Indigenous traditions the eagle is viewed as a sacred messenger connecting humans with the spiritual world.

Eagle feathers play a central role in ceremonies and cultural practices. For example some Plains tribes use eagle imagery during the Sun Dance ceremony.

Because of this sacred status, U.S. law regulates eagle feathers. Federal rules allow members of federally recognized tribes to possess bald or golden eagle feathers for religious purposes under specific conditions.

Bald eagles live across much of North America including Canada and Alaska. They prefer habitats near large bodies of water such as lakes, rivers and coastal bays including areas like Chesapeake Bay.

These raptors primarily hunt fish, often swooping down to grab prey from the water's surface with powerful talons. Eagles also scavenge or steal food from other birds such as ospreys.

Bald eagles build enormous nests high in large trees. A bald eagle nest can reach about 13 feet (4 m) high and 8 feet (2.4 m) wide, making it the largest nest built by any North American bird species.

Young birds look quite different from adults. Immature bald eagles have mottled brown plumage rather than the famous white head and tail. The birds usually reach maturity around 4 to 5 years of age.

The bald eagle once faced severe decline in the United States due to habitat loss, illegal shooting, and the pesticide DDT. By 1963 scientists recorded only 417 known nesting pairs remaining in the contiguous United States.

Strong conservation efforts helped reverse the decline. The banning of DDT and legal protections allowed the bald eagle population to rebound dramatically.

The species was removed from the U.S. endangered species list in 2007 and is now classified as "Least Concern" globally. By 2020 wildlife officials estimated 71,400 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states.

Despite this recovery the birds still face threats including lead poisoning, vehicle collisions, and occasional illegal shooting.

Supporters of the national bird designation say the bald eagle reflects the values many Americans associate with their country. Its powerful wings, sharp eyesight, and commanding presence helped it become a lasting emblem of freedom and independence.

Fun fact: Benjamin Franklin once famously criticized the bald eagle and praised the turkey in a letter to his daughter, but he did not propose the turkey become the national bird.

Today the bald eagle stands alongside symbols such as the American bison (the national mammal) and the rose (the national flower) as part of the country's official identity.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.