Bald eagle is officially America's bird, with Biden's signature

The bald eagle is emblematic of America. It's on coins and bills, graces the Great Seal and inspired conservation efforts that brought the species back from the brink of extinction. Though it was first used as the national symbol more than 240 years ago, Congress had never made it official.

That changed earlier this year. And on Christmas Eve, President Biden signed the legislation declaring the bald eagle the official national bird.

"For nearly 250 years, we called the bald eagle the national bird when it wasn't," said Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center, in a release. "But now the title is official, and no bird is more deserving."