The bald eagle is not the national bird of the U.S.

It was news to me when I read this in the Minnesota Star Tribune:

Congress will consider, and may pass, a bill officially designating the bald eagle the United States’ national bird.

“Wait — what?” Americans will say. “Hasn’t the bald eagle been the national bird since, like, the 18th century?”

Many think so, including Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources. But the bald eagle, although featured on the Great Seal of the United States and emblazoned on the country’s passports, currency, postage stamps and military uniforms, was never formally named the country’s avian representative.

That could change thanks to the legislation, which was spearheaded by the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minn., an effort initiated by an avid Eagle Center supporter and collector who discovered the oversight and sought to make the bird’s role official.

States have state birds (Minnesota’s is the loon, of course, since 1961). The United States has a national mammal, the bison, as well as a national flower, the rose, and tree, the oak. But no national bird.

Photo taken by me at the aforementioned National Eagle Center about 15 years ago.