As American as apple pie the bald eagle is an iconic symbol of the United States. Its likeness adorns official seals coins, flags, stamps – even the President’s lectern. So how did this majestic bird of prey become our official national emblem? The story involves Founding Father Benjamin Franklin and his tongue-in-cheek preference for the turkey over the bald eagle.
Benjamin Franklin’s Role in Choosing the National Bird
After declaring independence in 1776 the founding fathers tasked Benjamin Franklin with helping to design the Great Seal of the United States. Franklin proposed using an image from the Bible, with Moses parting the Red Sea. His design was not selected.
When Charles Thomson took over the project in 1782, he introduced the bald eagle into the design. With passage of two key pieces of legislation, the bald eagle officially became part of the Great Seal and a national symbol.
Franklin’s Famous Letter Praising the Turkey
In 1784, two years after the eagle was adopted, Franklin wrote a letter to his daughter criticizing the choice. He wrote:
“For my own part I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his living honestly…[he] is too lazy to fish for himself.”
Franklin praised the turkey as:
“A much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America…brave and honest.”
This letter gave rise to the myth that Franklin wanted the turkey as the national bird.
Was Franklin Serious or Joking?
There is debate around whether Franklin meant his words seriously or in jest. Some claim he was mocking the Society of the Cincinnati, a patriotic group he disagreed with. Others think he was genuinely criticizing the bald eagle as the national symbol.
Franklin never sent the letter to his daughter. He sent it privately to a friend to translate into French as a subtle public critique that was not published until after Franklin’s death. This approach hints that his comparison of eagles and turkeys may have had a satirical edge.
The Bald Eagle Stays While the Turkey Gets its Day
While Franklin made some good points, the bald eagle remains our official national bird to this day. Its striking white head and expansive wings represent strength and freedom. The wild turkey, meanwhile, is honored in its own beloved Thanksgiving tradition when millions of families across the nation gather to feast on roasted turkey.
So while the majestic bald eagle soars over the land of the free, the humble turkey has earned its own place at the table in American tradition. Their unique roles reflect the spirit of our nation’s diverse roots. Just as Franklin and the other founders had differing views that came together to form a new nation, so too do the bald eagle and turkey each symbolize important aspects of American culture.
The Turkey Lives On
Though it never achieved designation as the national symbol, the turkey persists as an icon. As Franklin foretold, the turkey’s association with Thanksgiving ties it intrinsically to America. For over 200 years, it has been the centerpiece of the traditional Thanksgiving meal in households across the nation.
While the bald eagle represents freedom and strength, the turkey symbolizes togetherness, abundance and gratitude. In that way, Benjamin Franklin’s high praise for the turkey was visionary. The bald eagle may be the official emblem, but the lowly turkey holds an equally lofty place in the American imagination.
Did Benjamin Franklin want the Wild Turkey to be the national bird?
Since Benjamin Franklins suggested design for the seal didnt contain any birds, it is believed that he did not lobby for the Wild Turkey to be the national bird. In fact, the only written mention of his disdain for the Bald Eagle wasnt until 1784 when he wrote a letter to his daughter where he questions the decision. In the letter he makes it clear that he did not believe the Bald Eagle to be representative of the new nation and he remarks that the bird on the seal looks more like a turkey. The letter reads:
In fact, the only time a seal of the United States has featured a Wild Turkey was when artist, Anatole Kovarsky, designed the on the left for the November 24, 1962 issue of The New Yorker.
Is Franklin right about the moral character of Bald Eagles?
Well, sort of. Since Bald Eagles arent humans, we are slow to assign them “characters” in the way we might describe a person, but what we can say about our nations symbol is that they tend to be opportunistic when it comes to acquiring their food.
Bald Eagles are known for regally catching fish in their bright yellow feet, held firm by sharp talons, from glistening blue lakes in front of the back drop of purple mountains majesty, but theyre also not quick to shy away from an easy 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. One can imagine that Benjamin Franklin would not have been pleased to see our national bird perched high atop a trash heap.
Franklin wasnt exactly wrong to liken Bald Eagles to robbers either. It is true that Bald Eagles are known for stealing fish from Osprey (Franklin calls them “Fishing hawks”) or even other, particularly juvenile, Bald Eagles (photo below). He also wasnt wrong to note that the national symbol will also respond to smaller birds chasing them by retreating. Smaller birds see Bald Eagles, and other birds of prey, as potential threats and will practice a behavior called “mobbing” to scare them away from an area. Many raptors are quick to skedaddle when smaller birds begin diving at their heads.
Turkey: The Other National Bird | Benjamin Franklin’s Strange Proposal
FAQ
Who wanted the turkey national bird?
What animal did Ben Franklin want to be the national bird?
How did the turkey become the national symbol of Thanksgiving?
Who chose the eagle as our national bird?