What is the official bird of the United States of America?
Published on June 24, 2024 at 12:04pm CDT
Publisher’s Perspective
By Tim Douglass, Publisher of the Pope County Tribune
What’s the official Bird of the United States?
If you guessed the Bald Eagle, you’d be wrong.
The United States does not have an official bird.
That’s why U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced bipartisan legislation recently to designate the bald eagle as the National Bird of the United States.
“While most people assume the Bald Eagle is our nation’s official bird, the fact is our country doesn’t have an official bird,” said Preston Cook, Co-Chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center. “The bison is the national mammal, the rose is the national flower, and the oak is the national tree. It’s time the Bald Eagle, long revered as our national symbol, finds its rightful place as our country’s official national bird.”
The bald eagle has proudly been depicted as the national symbol of the United States since June 20, 1782, when our country’s Founding Fathers at the Second Continental Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States. Since that time, the bald eagle design has gone on to appear on official documents, currency, flags, public buildings, sports teams, and other government-related items. Today, the bald eagle is synonymous with American life and this legislation will officially designate it as the National Bird of the United States.
“The bald eagle is a symbol of our country’s freedom and strength. In Minnesota, we are proud to call ourselves home to one of the largest populations of bald eagles in the country as well as the National Eagle Center in Wabasha,” said Klobuchar. “My bipartisan legislation will officially designate the bald eagle as our country’s National Bird.”
“There is nothing more American than a bald eagle soaring across the Wyoming sky,” said Lummis. “These majestic creatures have long been viewed as the official bird of this country and it is past time we made it official without costing taxpayers a single cent. As we approach the Fourth of July, I am thrilled to partner with Senator Amy Klobuchar to make the bald eagle the National Bird of the United States.”
“The bald eagle has long been a symbol of freedom and patriotism for our nation,” said Mullin. “It’s only fitting we officially designate the bald eagle the national bird of the United States. I am glad to join my colleagues on this introduction.”
“The Bald Eagle has been a universally recognizable symbol of patriotism in this country for centuries, and they thrive in Minnesota because of our abundant lakes and forestry across North Country,” said Smith.
“Since the founding of our nation, the bald eagle has existed as a symbol of our country’s independence, strength, and freedom. Prominently displayed on our official currency, military uniforms, and our government buildings, the bald eagle stands as the undisputed representative of the United States of America,” said Finstad. “I am proud to work alongside the National Eagle Center in Wabasha to introduce this legislation which will officially classify the bald eagle as the national bird – its proper place of honor as an integral part of our national identity.”
Companion legislation is being introduced in the U.S. House.
