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.

The bald eagle is now the national bird of the United States. You'd be forgiven if, like just about everyone on social media, you thought that was already the case. But the bald eagle wasn't formally designated as the national bird until last week,

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.

Though a longstanding symbol of "independence, strength and freedom," according to Congress, the bird of prey never received a formal designation

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. However, until Christmas Eve, it wasn't on the books as the national bird. On Monday, Dec. 30, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar joined a standing-room-only crowd at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha to mark the legislation she sponsored making the designation official.

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