The story of the turkey almost becoming the national bird of the United States is a fascinating tale of patriotism, symbolism, and a healthy dose of ornithological critique. While the bald eagle ultimately soared to the top of the avian hierarchy, the turkey came close, thanks in part to the efforts of Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s founding fathers.
Franklin’s Disdain for the Bald Eagle
In 1782, as the newly formed nation sought to establish its own identity, a committee was formed to design the Great Seal of the United States. Benjamin Franklin, a man of many talents and opinions, was part of this committee. However, his vision for the national emblem did not include the bald eagle.
Franklin found the bald eagle to be lacking in moral character. He criticized its scavenging habits, laziness, and cowardice. In a letter to his daughter, he wrote: “For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly.”
Instead, Franklin championed the turkey as a more suitable symbol. He praised its courage, resourcefulness, and status as a native American bird He even went so far as to suggest that the turkey, despite its occasional vanity, was “a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on”
The Bald Eagle Takes Flight
Despite Franklin’s passionate advocacy, the bald eagle ultimately won the day. The committee’s final design, featuring the majestic bird clutching an olive branch and arrows, was approved by the Continental Congress in 1782
The bald eagle’s symbolism resonated with the ideals of the young nation. Its strength, independence, and vision became synonymous with the American spirit. The turkey, while valiant in its own right, couldn’t quite match the bald eagle’s grandeur.
A Thanksgiving Tradition
While the turkey may not have become the national bird, it did secure a place in American culture as the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving feast. Its association with the holiday is a testament to its abundance and significance in the early days of the nation.
A Tale of Two Birds
The story of the turkey and the bald eagle is a reminder that national symbols are often imbued with meaning beyond their literal representation. The bald eagle, with its soaring majesty, embodies the aspirations of a nation striving for independence and strength. The turkey, with its grounded practicality and resourcefulness, represents the resilience and abundance of the American land.
Both birds, in their own way, hold a place in the American narrative, reminding us of the diverse and complex tapestry that makes up our national identity.
How did the Bald Eagle become the national bird of the United States?
The United States adopted a seal in 1782, a few years after announcing its independence from Great Britain. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin were on the committee that created the seal. Charles Thomson, a Philadelphia-born Patriot leader of Irish descent and secretary of Congress, submitted the winning seal design, which the Continental Congress accepted right away. Franklin’s proposal included no birds at all in the emblem.
The artwork by Thomson featured a Bald Eagle with thirteen arrows in its left talons and an olive branch in its right. With a shield resting on its breast, it holds a scroll in its beak that reads, “E pluribus unum,” which translates to “Out of many, one.” The Bald Eagle became the national bird of the United States when this design was adopted as the Great Seal of the United States.
Is Franklin right about the moral character of Bald Eagles?
Well, sort of. We are reluctant to give Bald Eagles “characters” in the same sense that we might describe people because they are not humans, but one thing we can say about our country’s symbol is that they have a propensity for being opportunistic when it comes to getting food.
Bald Eagles are renowned for their ability to catch fish with their bright yellow feet, held firmly in place by their sharp talons, from shimmering blue lakes set against the majestic backdrop of purple mountains. However, they are also known to not turn down a simple meal. such as carrion, or dead animals. In fact, Bald Eagles are often seen feeding on dead fish, mammals, and other birds that wash ashore. They can also often be seen hanging out in garbage dumps looking for a delicacy to snack upon. Benjamin Franklin probably would not have approved of our national bird perched atop a heap of trash.
Franklin wasnt exactly wrong to liken Bald Eagles to robbers either. It is true that Bald Eagles have a reputation for robbing Osprey (Franklin refers to them as “Fishing hawks”) or even other Bald Eagles, especially the younger ones (see photo below). He was also correct when he pointed out that the national symbol will flee when smaller birds pursue it. Smaller birds engage in a tactic known as “mobbing” to frighten away Bald Eagles and other prey birds by perceiving them as possible threats. Many raptors are quick to skedaddle when smaller birds begin diving at their heads.
Turkey: The Other National Bird | Benjamin Franklin’s Strange Proposal
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What’s the national bird of Germany?
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Country
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Name of bird
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Scientific name
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Germany
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Golden eagle
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Aquila chrysaetos
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Gibraltar
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Barbary partridge
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Alectoris barbara
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Grenada
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Grenada dove
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Leptotila wellsi
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Guatemala
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Resplendent quetzal
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Pharomachrus mocinno
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