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.

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.

With the United States just making the bald eagle the national bird, here's what you need to know about them living in Pennsylvania.

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.

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 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.

After nearly 250 years of informal recognition, the bald eagle has officially been designated as the national bird of the United States.