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Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a large bird of prey (a sea eagle) native to North America. Its historic range extends from Alaska and Canada across the contiguous United States to northern Mexico, and it is most often found near large bodies of open water with abundant food and suitable nesting trees. The bald eagle has been a central U.S. national symbol since the Continental Congress adopted the Great Seal of the United States on June 20, 1782, which features a bald eagle. It was formally designated the national bird in U.S. law in 2024.

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a large bird of prey (a sea eagle) native to North America. Its historic range extends from Alaska and Canada across the contiguous United States to northern Mexico, and it is most often found near large bodies of open water with abundant food and suitable nesting trees. The bald eagle has been a central U.S. national symbol since the Continental Congress adopted the Great Seal of the United States on June 20, 1782, which features a bald eagle. It was formally designated the national bird in U.S. law in 2024.