The bald eagle was chosen as the national bird symbol of the United States of America in 1782 because of its majestic beauty, great strength, long life, and because it was indigenous to North America. The golden eagle, while also a powerful bird of prey, was not chosen for several reasons.
Brief History of the Bald Eagle as National Bird
The bald eagle was chosen as the emblem of the United States of America in 1782 after much debate among the Founding Fathers. Several designs were considered, including the turkey, dove, and eagle. The eagle was chosen because it symbolized strength, courage, freedom and immortality. The bald eagle was preferred over the golden eagle because it was native only to North America, while the golden eagle had a wider global distribution.
The bald eagle had already been used unofficially as a national symbol for decades prior, appearing on the Seal of the President of the Continental Congress in 1775. Benjamin Franklin famously argued against the bald eagle as the national bird, claiming it was of “bad moral character,” being a shameless scavenger. However, the fierceness and majestic appearance of the bald eagle eventually won out over Franklin’s objections.
Physical Characteristics of the Bald Eagle
The bald eagle is a large bird of prey that is unique to North America. It reaches a body length of 30-43 inches and has a wingspan of 6-7 feet. Bald eagles have a dark brown body and wings, with a distinctive white head and tail feathers. The legs, beak, and eyes are bright yellow. Bald eagles get their name from the white feathers on their head, which is devoid of the dark feathers that cover the rest of their body.
In contrast, the golden eagle is slightly smaller, at 27-33 inches long with a 6-7.5 foot wingspan. Golden eagles are brown all over, with golden feathers on the back of their neck and head. Golden eagles are found across the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia.
Key Physical Differences
Feature | Bald Eagle | Golden Eagle |
Color | Brown body, white head/tail | All brown |
Size | 30-43 in. long | 27-33 in. long |
Wingspan | 6-7 ft | 6-7.5 ft |
Beak | Yellow | Dark colored |
Distribution | Exclusive to North America | Northern Hemisphere |
Behaviors of Bald and Golden Eagles
Both the bald eagle and golden eagle are birds of prey that hunt for food and scavenge carrion. However, there are some differences in their behavior that influenced the choice of the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States.
Hunting and Diet
Bald eagles mainly eat fish, swooping down and snatching them from the water with their talons. They will also hunt small land animals like rabbits, reptiles and amphibians. Bald eagles also readily eat carrion of dead animals.
Golden eagles have a more varied diet, including small mammals like rabbits, ground squirrels and prairie dogs, medium sized birds, and reptiles. They strongly prefer to hunt live prey over eating carrion. Bald eagles are more likely to scavenge for already dead animals.
Habitat and Range
Bald eagles occupy territories along coasts, rivers, and lakes, where they can access their main food – fish. Their habitat range is limited exclusively to North America. This made them a better representative for the newly formed United States nation.
Golden eagles occupy more diverse habitats across the entire Northern Hemisphere, including mountains, deserts, grasslands, and tundra. They are not limited to coastal regions like bald eagles are.
Breeding
Bald eagles mate for life, returning to breed at the same nesting site each year. Nests are usually very large, built high up in trees near water. Bald eagle pairs aggressively defend their nesting territories.
Golden eagles also mate for life, but do not always use the same nest repeatedly. They usually nest on cliff edges and ledges rather than up in trees. Golden eagles build several nesting sites within their broader home range and may rotate between them.
Symbolic Importance of the Bald Eagle
The bald eagle was chosen because of its exclusively American heritage and its striking appearance, according to the Founding Fathers. It symbolized freedom, strength, spirit, fierceness and elegance. The bald eagle’s association with power and leadership made it a fitting representative for the new United States.
Patriotism
The bald eagle’s restriction to North America made it a better patriotic symbol for the newly formed country than the more widespread golden eagle. The founders wanted a bird unique to the United States to represent the nation.
Strength
The bald eagle’s large size, sharp talons, and curved beak symbolized the power and strength of the young nation. The eagle was seen as king of the skies, and America as a rising world power.
Freedom
The bald eagle’s ability to soar high in the sky represented the freedom and liberty sought by the founders from British rule. Bald eagles were associated with lofty flight and control of the skies.
Longevity
Bald eagles can live over 30 years in the wild. Their long lifespan echoed the Founding Father’s vision for an enduring nation that would stand the test of time. The stability of bald eagle mated pairs also symbolized fidelity.
Native Heritage
Choosing a native bird seemed respectful of the indigenous origin of the land, vs an introduced species from the old world like the European starling. The bald eagle reflected Native American reverence for nature and wildlife.
Legal Protection of the Bald Eagle
Due to hunting and habitat destruction, bald eagle populations severely declined by the mid-1900s. The Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 made it illegal to hunt, harm, or disturb bald eagles in the United States. Here is a timeline of key legal protections:
Year | Law Passed | Protections |
1940 | Bald Eagle Protection Act | Banned hunting and trafficking |
1962 | Amended Bald Eagle Protection Act | Prohibited disturbing nests |
1973 | Endangered Species Act | Classified bald eagles as endangered |
1995 | Downlisted to threatened status | |
2007 | Removed from endangered species list |
These conservation laws allowed bald eagle populations to recover significantly. From just 417 breeding pairs in 1963, there are now over 300,000 bald eagles in the lower 48 states today.
Cultural Significance of the Bald Eagle
The bald eagle appears extensively in Native American mythology and artwork. It represents a spiritual connection between the gods and the people. Many tribes consider eagles sacred. The eagle plays a role in storytelling and ceremonies of Native cultures.
Native American Traditions
Native American tribes have many traditions around the eagle. Their feathers are used in rituals, ceremonies, and headdresses. Eagle motifs are common in totem poles on the west coast. Some practices and beliefs include:
- Eagle feathers symbolize trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, and freedom
- Golden and bald eagles are considered sacred messenger birds
- Eagle bones and feathers are used in spiritual practices and rituals
- Looking into an eagle’s eyes is believed to give powers of higher vision
- Eagle feathers are offered as a sign of peace and friendship
The Eagle in Art
The bald eagle appears frequently in Northwestern Native American art in the forms of totem poles, masks, jewelry, murals, and carvings. Eagle designs are commonly used to decorate functional objects like bowls, baskets, blankets, and tools. Their feathers are worn in headdresses and regalia.
Threats and Conservation Challenges
Though now recovered, bald eagle populations still face threats from habitat destruction, lead poisoning, collisions with vehicles and power lines, and climate change. Ongoing conservation efforts are needed.
Habitat Loss
Development near waterways leads to nesting habitat loss. Shoreline trees used for perching and building nests are often cleared. Development disturbs and displaces eagle pairs from territories.
Lead Poisoning
Scavenging eagles ingest lead shotgun pellets and fishing tackle, causing poisoning. Lead impairs their reproduction and causes death. The use of lead ammunition is being phased out in some areas.
Collisions
Bald eagles are vulnerable to being struck by vehicles when scavenging roadkill. They can also collide with power lines and towers while in flight.
Climate Change
As fish populations and water sources shift or decline due to climate change, it becomes harder for eagles to find food resources. Nest sites may become climatically unsuitable.
Illegal Killing
Some eagles are still illegally shot or poisoned. The black market for eagle feathers and parts persists despite prohibitions on disturbing them.
Comparison with the Golden Eagle
Although the golden eagle is an impressive bird of prey and national animal of Mexico, the bald eagle was preferred as the symbol of America for its uniqueness to North America, its association with waterways, its scavenging behavior, and its white-feathered head conveying nobility.
Overlap in Range
The bald eagle only lives in North America, whereas the golden eagle has a Holarctic distribution across the entire Northern Hemisphere. This makes the bald eagle more distinctly American.
Habitat and Diet
Golden eagles occupy mountains, deserts, and open country, unlike the coast-dwelling and fish-eating bald eagle. Bald eagles were thus seen as better representations of the 13 colonies.
Scavenging Tendencies
The bald eagle’s willingness to eat carrion and steal food seems to symbolize the opportunistic early settlers. The golden eagle strongly prefers hunting live prey.
Appearance
The bald eagle’s distinctive white-feathered head adds to its nobility and regal appearance. The golden eagle lacks the contrasting white head and tail plumage.
So while both are majestic birds of prey, the bald eagle’s physical traits and behavioral qualities made it a better fit for the national emblem of the United States.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the bald eagle was designated as the national bird symbol of America in 1782 because of its dramatic beauty, strength, long life, and habitat restriction to North America. Its connections to waterways, scavenging food strategy, regal appearance, and Native American reverence made the bald eagle a perfect representative for the newly independent United States.
The golden eagle, while still a powerful raptor, has a more global distribution and greater association with mountains and open country. The bald eagle’s white head and resonant connection to coasts and waterways cemented its status as the national bird of the early American republic.
Despite threats, bald eagle numbers have rebounded due to conservation protections. The bald eagle remains an iconic living symbol of freedom, power, spirit, wilderness, and national heritage for the United States of America.