Reports from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or other authoritative wildlife organizations

Biden Signs Bill on Christmas Eve to Make Bald Eagle U.S. National Bird, Spearheaded by Minnesota's Klobuchar

Dec 26, 2024, 04:03 AM

President Joe Biden signed legislation on Christmas Eve, officially designating the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States. The bald eagle, a symbol of the country's power and strength for more than 240 years, has been featured on the Great Seal since 1782. Despite its long-standing role as an emblem of the nation, it had never been officially recognized as the national bird until this bill was signed into law. The legislation, spearheaded by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, amends the United States Code to correct this oversight. The bald eagle, indigenous to North America, joins other national symbols such as the oak tree, the rose, and the bison. In 2020, there were 316,700 bald eagles in the United States, reflecting a significant recovery from when the species was once on the endangered list.