The bald eagle is featured on American military insignia, currency, stamps and even the helmets of an NFL team. However, the government has never officially recognized it as the United States’ national bird—until now.

The bird of brown and white feathers has long represented the United States as a majestic and soaring symbol, but only this week did a law make it official.

It’s now official. The bald eagle is America’s national bird. The official declaration does just that — make it official.

The United States has used the bald eagle as a national symbol since George Washington was president. But it only became the national bird on Dec. 24, and only after a Minnesota man caught the oversight.

The bird has been a national emblem in the US for years, but it never had an official status in the country's 248-year history.

President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that officially named the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States. Though a longstanding symbol of 'independence, strength and freedom,' the bird of prey never received a formal designation.

The bald eagle has landed in U.S. Code as President Joe Biden signed a bill Tuesday making the predator the official national bird.

President Joe Biden signed into law legislation sent to him by Congress that amends the United States Code to correct what had long gone unnoticed and designate the bald eagle — familiar to many because of its white head, yellow beak and brown body — as the national bird.

The bald eagle is on the United States' national seal, on U.S. currency. However, until Christmas Eve it wasn't on the books as the national bird.

The bald eagle has been lauded as a symbol of the United States, but it wasn't officially the national bird until Tuesday.