Congress that same year designated the bald eagle as the the national emblem ... USA.gov. But it had never been officially designated to be what many had just assumed it was — the national bird.

The bald eagle was adopted as the Coat of Arms for the United States Great Seal in June ... role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity,” Cook ...

The bald eagle, a symbol of the power and strength of the United States for more than 240 years, earned an overdue honor on Tuesday: It officially became the country's national bird.