Bald Eagle Named National Bird

The bald eagle, a symbol of the power and strength of the United States for more than 240 years, earned an overdue honor on Tuesday: It officially became the country’s national bird.

In 1782, Congress designated the bald eagle as the the national emblem but it had never been officially designated to be what many had just assumed it was — the national bird.

The bald eagle is indigenous to North America.