This big bird is the bald eagle. It is our national bird, a bird that stands for the whole country.
Key idea
The bald eagle is a symbol of strength and freedom. It lives only in North America.
Why it works
Long ago, in 1782, leaders chose the eagle for the Great Seal of the United States, the country's official stamp. An eagle is strong, flies high and is free, and bald eagles live only in North America. In 2024 Congress made it our official national bird.
Common mistake
"Bald" makes some children think the eagle has no feathers on its head. It does! A grown-up bald eagle has a head covered in white feathers and a brown body. Long ago, "bald" could mean "white-headed."
For the grown-up: The Great Seal is on the back of a one-dollar bill. Look at one together and find the eagle: it holds an olive branch in one foot and arrows in the other.