President Joe Biden signed legislation sent to him by Congress to amend the United States Code to correct a long-overlooked oversight and designate the bald eagle — known to many because of its white head, yellow beak and brown body — as the national bird. .
The bald eagle has appeared on the Great Seal of the United States, which is used on official documents, since 1782, when the design was finalized. The seal is composed of an eagle, an olive branch, arrows, a flag-like shield, the motto ‘E Pluribus Unum’ and a constellation of stars.
Congress designated the bald eagle as the national symbol that same year, and its image appears in many places, from documents and the presidential flag to military insignia and U.S. currency, according to USA.gov.
But it was not officially designated as many assumed it was the national bird.
The bald eagle is native to North America.