The bald eagle has been officially declared the national bird of the United States after 250 years

The bald eagle is now officially the national bird of the United States after President Joe Biden signed legislation honoring the bald, yellow-beaked bird of prey on Christmas Eve.

The bird has been the national emblem of the United States for many years, appearing on the Great Seal of the United States – used on American documents – since 1782.

But it wasn’t officially designated the national bird until Congress passed the bill last week, sending it to Biden’s desk for signature.

“For nearly 250 years, we’ve called the bald eagle the national bird, even though it hasn’t been,” Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Eagle Center’s National Bird Initiative, said in a statement. “But now the title is official, and there is no more worthy bird.”

Not everyone has always agreed with the national status of the bald eagle.

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin objected to the creation representing the country by naming him “a bird of bad moral qualities.”

But not all of Congress shared Franklin’s sentiments.

Bald eagles, like other eagles around the world, have been seen as symbols of strength, courage, freedom and immortality for generations, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. And, unlike other eagles, the bald eagle was native only to North America.

Legislation to designate the bald eagle as the national bird was initiated by Minnesota lawmakers. The state is home to what Sen. Amy Klobuchar called one of the nation’s largest populations of bald eagles.

The bald eagle is also protected under the National Emblem Act of 1940, which makes it illegal to sell or hunt the creature.

The birds were once on the verge of extinction, but since 2009 the population has increased significantly.

The bald eagle bill was one of 50 pieces of legislation Biden signed into law on Christmas Eve, including a federal anti-hazing law to combat violence and death on college campuses.