Bald eagle why is it a american symbol

The United States of America has many national symbols. From the American flag to the red, white, and blue motif, you can associate a wide variety of visions with America. The American Bald Eagle is one symbol that signifies the spirit of the nation and those who live here. So, when did the American bald eagle become a symbol for America and why was this majestic bird chosen?

The American bald eagle was chosen as a symbol for this country in At that time, the American bald eagle was placed on the seal of our country.

The American bald eagle saw its first appearance on the Massachusetts copper cent back in The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolizes the strength and freedom of America.

Given some of the other possible options crows, hummingbirds, chickens, etc. Got a question? Email it to Life's Little Mysteries and we'll try to answer it. Nevertheless, selected as our national bird, the eagle has appeared on all official seals of the United States, as well as on most coinage, paper money, and on many U. It is curious to note the minted eagles have been issued in a great variety of shapes and positions.

Also, there is great variation in the species depicted. Some of the famous images have species other than the bald eaglefor example the famous ten-dollar gold pieces exhibit the "double eagle" instead. Numerous people have complained because many, if not most, of these illustrations show the wide-ranging golden eagle rather than our own national bird, the bald eagle. They feel these representations mislead the general public into believing that they are looking at a bald eagle.

The easiest way to distinguish between the golden and bald eagles is by the feathering on the legs. The golden is feathered down the entire leg, while the bald eagle has no feathers on lower part of the leg until at least two or three years of age, when bald eagles also start developing the white head and tail.

Because of their size, bald eagles are not concerned about threats from other birds. However, eagles are often chased by smaller birds, who are trying to protect their young.

Bald eagles are unlikely to bother smaller birds or their young, which makes these efforts unnecessary. Thomson chose what he thought were the best elements of the various designs and made the eagle—which had been introduced by artistically inclined Pennsylvania lawyer William Barton in a design submitted by the third committee—more prominent. Since ancient times, the eagle has been considered a sign of strength; Roman legions used the animal as their standard, or symbol.

As the design went on to appear on official documents, currency, flags, public buildings and other government-related items, the bald eagle became an American icon. In the lates, the country was home to , nesting bald eagles, but the number of birds soon dwindled due to such factors as habitat destruction and hunting.