Bald eagle officially recognized as national bird of the United States

The bald eagle has officially been designated as the national bird of the United States. President Joe Biden signed legislation that corrects its status, which had long been assumed but never formally recognized. The bald eagle has been a symbol of the U.S. since it appeared on the Great Seal in 1782. It was previously designated as the national emblem, but this new law clarifies its title as the national bird. Once endangered, the bald eagle population has significantly recovered. From just 417 nesting pairs in 1963, there are now an estimated 316,700 bald eagles in the lower 48 states.