Bald eagles have symbolized America since 1782. But they’re not officially designated the national bird — yet.
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Bruce Weaver/AFP via Getty Images
The bald eagle has been a symbol of the United States for centuries, with its iconography plastered across currency, documents, flags, stamps, government buildings, military uniforms and more.
You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s America’s national bird. But the fine print doesn’t officially say so — at least not yet.
On Monday, the House of Representatives passed a bill amending the U.S. Code to officially designate the bald eagle (aka Haliaeetus leucocephalus) as the country’s national bird.
The Senate already passed the bill, with bipartisan support, in July. Now it just needs President Biden’s signature to become the law of the land.
“Today, we rightfully recognize the bald eagle as our official national bird — bestowing an honor that is long overdue,” said Rep. Brad Finstad, the Minnesota Republican who introduced the House version of the bill earlier this year.
So why did the recognition take so long, and how did it finally become a reality? Americans have one dogged eagle enthusiast to thank.
How bald eagles became America’s unofficial bird
The presidential seal, like the logos of many federal institutions, stars a bald eagle.
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Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Eagles have been used as a symbol of strength since ancient Rome, so it’s not surprising that they soared into American iconography too.
After the U.S.’ founding in 1776, three different committees tried unsuccessfully to come up with an official seal that would satisfy Congress.
Eventually, Charles Thomson, the secretary of Congress, combined elements from all three proposals into what is now known as the Great Seal, featuring an eagle front and center, clasping an olive branch and arrows in its talons.
The original proposal depicted a small, white eagle. Thomson recommended it be replaced with a bald eagle, a species native to North America.
Congress adopted the design in 1782, cementing the bald eagle’s status as an American icon.
The species’ popularity has continued to soar ever since. In addition to its official appearances, the bald eagle can be seen today decorating all sorts of patriotic merchandise, serving as the mascot for hundreds of schools and even flying over major sporting events.
A Minnesota eagle enthusiast lobbied for their recognition
That’s why Preston Cook was shocked to learn that bald eagles aren’t technically America’s national bird.
Cook, 78, has devoted much of his life to studying and honoring the species.
“I saw a movie in 1966 called A Thousand Clowns, and it had one line in it: ‘You can’t have too many eagles,'” Cook told MPR News in November. “And that inspired me. So I left the movie theater thinking, ‘I want to collect eagles.’
Over the decades he’s amassed more than 40,000 bald eagle items, from pins to paintings to playing cards, a collection that currently lives at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minn. (He doesn’t play favorites, but counts the eagle buttons issued to him on his military dress uniform in 1966 among the most meaningful.)
