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 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.

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

The bald eagle has landed in U.S. Code as President Joe Biden signed a bill Tuesday making the predator the official 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,

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.

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

Among the 50 bills signed by President Joe Biden on Christmas Eve was S.4610,  which amends title 36, United States Code, to designate the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States.

The bald eagle is on the United States' national seal, on U.S. currency. However, until Christmas Eve it wasn't on the books as the national bird.