The bird is a symbol of the USA - the bald eagle.
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a large bird of prey living in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The bald eagle was a sacred bird in many cultures of the indigenous inhabitants of North America. The feathers and claws of an eagle commonly known as the details of decorations and of ceremonial Indian costumes.
A national symbol of the US bald eagle was in 1782, when its image appeared on the Great seal of the USA (the emblem of the USA). Depicted on the obverse of the seal the eagle holds in one Talon the symbol of war - arrows, and in the other the symbol of peace - olive branch. The author offers about the choice of bald eagle for the image on the coat of arms of the U.S. was Secretary of the Continental Congress Charles Thomson.
According to the legend, during one of the first battles for independence, the young Republic of North America, bald eagles, awakened by the shots flew out of the nest and crying hovered over the heads of the fighting. "They scream for freedom," said one of the American patriots.
It is believed that the bald eagle symbolizes strength, courage, freedom and immortality.
In the second half of the XX century the population of bald eagles within the continental US States is strongly reduced and was even under the threat of extinction. Thanks to US government actions aimed at restoring their numbers at the present time the situation has improved considerably.