(The Hill) — After long being an unofficial symbol, the white head, yellow beak bald eagle became the official U.S. bird ... leading insignia for all U.S. military branches.

The bald eagle, a symbol of the nation for over 200 years, returned from near extinction to become America's bird − officially − this week.

With its distinctive brown body, white head and yellow beak, the bald eagle grasps an olive branch and arrows in its talons on the seal, which is used on official documents, military uniform ...