As a child, I was taught that the Bald Eagle was our national bird.
The United States has been using the Bald Eagle as a national emblem since 1782, but it was never officially declared our national bird until last month on December 24, 2024.
“For nearly 250 years, we called the Bald Eagle the national bird when it wasn’t,” said Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center, in a statement. “But now the title is official, and no bird is more deserving.”
Finally!
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Did you know a Bald Eagle does not reach adulthood until it’s five years old?
Here’s a nice comparison chart of the Bald Eagle’s head plumage over their first five years of life to help ‘age’ an eagle when you see one. Of course, immature eagles’ plumage changes are like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike in the mottling.
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Can you guess approximately how old the eagles are in the rest of my photos? Quiz at the end!
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Bald Eagle – United States National Bird
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Bay Photos by Donna 