| Bald Eagle | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
|
First Appearance |
Coat of arms of the United States (1782). |
|
Created by |
Charles Thomson |
Origin[]
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), which occupies the same niche as the bald eagle in the Palearctic. Its range includes most of Canadaand Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting.
The bald eagle is the national bird and national symbol of the United States and appears on its seal. In the late 20th century it was on the brink of extirpation in the contiguous United States, but measures such as banning the practice of hunting bald eagles and banning the use of the harmful pesticide DDT slowed the decline of their population. Populations have since recovered, and the species' status was upgraded from "endangered" to "threatened" in 1995 and removed from the list altogether in 2007.
On the Great Seal of the United States, the supporter of the shield is a bald eagle with its wings outstretched (or "displayed", in heraldic terms). From the eagle's perspective, it holds a bundle of 13 arrows in its left talon, and an olive branch in its right talon. Although not specified by law, the olive branch is usually depicted with 13 leaves and 13 olives. In its beak, the eagle clutches a scroll with the motto E pluribus unum ("Out of Many, One"). Over its head there appears a glory with 13 mullets (stars) on a blue field.
The recurring number 13 refers to the 13 original states. The arrows and olive branchtogether symbolize that the United States has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war" (see Olive Branch Petition). E Pluribus Unum contains 13 letters. The eagle has its head turned towards the olive branch, on its right side, to symbolize a preference for peace.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of the American Bald Eagle from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Animated Appearances[]
- Who's Who in the Zoo (1942): The Bald Eagle was a gag character shown wearing a toupee in this animated short.
Public Domain Comic Appearances[]
- Four Color #662, 1016: Both issues had features that were about American bald eagles facts.
- Zoo Funnies v1 #7: In this issue the feature titled A Visit to the Zoo with Patsy and Lou was about Bald Eagles.
- Flat-Top #6: An ad for Wildroot Cream-Oil featured a character Baldy the Bald Eagle.
- How Boys and Girls Can Help Win The War: Included sticker cut-outs for children to paste up of Uncle Sam, Minuteman, and a Bald Eagle.
Raven[]
The Puppeteer transforms whenever Raven, his talking bald eagle (whom everyone, including Raven himself, treats as a raven), plays Beethoven's Fifth Symphony on a magic pipe organ in the back of Alan's puppet shop.
- Everybody's Comics (1944)
- Everybody's Comics (1946) #1
- Blue Beetle #46
- All Good Comics #1
- All Your Comics
- Book of All Comics
Public Domain Comics Inspired by the American Bald Eagle[]
American Eagle (Nedor)[]
After accidentally gaining superhuman strength and agility from a strange serum accident, timid scientist Tom Standish teams up with the brave Bud Pierce, and together they become the costumed heroes American Eagle and Eaglet to battle Nazis and criminals alike.
- America’s Best Comics #6-7, 10-12, 14
- Exciting Comics #25-27, 29-38, 40-47, 49-50
- The Fighting Yank #18
American Eagle (Charlton)[]
Captain Fort, a.k.a. The American Eagle, was an air-force officer who fought in World War II against both the Japanese and the Nazis with assistance from his crew the Eagles.
- Fightin' Air Force #50-53
American Eagle (Prize)[]
American Eagle was a peace keeper from the Crow tribe who tried to get the Native American tribes and the white men to get along with each other and themselves.
- Prize Comics Western #85-119
Bald Eagle (Hillman)[]
Jack Gatling was known as the best stunt flier in America, but he lost all of his hair flying through a fire earning the nickname of Bald Eagle.
- Air Fighters Comics v1 #2-12, v2 #1-8, #10
Eagle (Fox)[]
Wealthy scientist and American patriot, Bill Powers first fought the Nazis as a spy and then put on a patriotic costume and battled them as the Eagle. He was assisted by his sidekick, Daredevil Boy.
- Science Comics #1-8
- Weird Comics #8-20
- Eagle #1-4
War Eagle[]
As a child, Bill Reed was left partially paralyzed, but through relentless training he built immense strength and eventually discovered the secret of winged flight, restoring his mobility. Wealthy yet restless, he took on the mantle of War Eagle in 1942, using his abilities to battle criminals and Nazis, including his nemesis, the Wrench.
- Crime Does Not Pay Comics #22
Notes[]
- Braviary is an eagle Pokémon with feathers in the color of the American flag and a feathered crest reminiscent of a Cheyenne feathered headdress. It was introduced in Pokémon Black and White, whose Unova region is primarily based on NYC and northeastern New Jersey.