The bald eagle is now officially the national bird of the United States after President Joe Biden signed legislation on Christmas Eve honoring the bald and yellow-billed raptor.
The bird has been a US national emblem for years, appearing on the Great Seal of the US – used on US documents – since 1782.
But it wasn't officially designated as the national bird until Congress passed the bill last week, sending it to Biden's desk for signature.
“For almost 250 years, we've called the bald eagle the national bird, even though it wasn't,” Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Eagle Center's National Bird Initiative, said in a statement. “But now the title is official and there is no bird more deserving.”
Not everyone has always agreed on the national status of the golden eagle.
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin objected to the creature being chosen to represent the country, calling it “bird with bad morals”.
But not everyone in Congress shared Franklin's sentiments.
Bald eagles, like other eagles around the world, have been seen by many as symbols of strength, courage, freedom and immortality for generations, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. And unlike other eagles, the bald eagle is native only to North America.
Legislation designating the bald eagle as the national bird was spearheaded by Minnesota lawmakers. The state is home to what Sen. Amy Klobuchar described as one of the largest bald eagle populations in the nation.
The bald eagle is also protected by the National Emblem Act of 1940, which prohibits the sale or hunting of the creature.
The birds were once on the brink of extinction, but the population has increased significantly since 2009.
The bald eagle bill was one of 50 pieces of legislation Biden signed into law on Christmas Eve, including a federal anti-bullying law to address violence and deaths on college campuses.