Bird of Washington explained

The Bird of Washington, Washington Eagle or Great Sea Eagle (Falco washingtonii, F. washingtoniensis, F. washingtonianus, or Haliaetus washingtoni^[1]) was a putative species of sea eagle which was claimed in 1826 and published by John James Audubon in his famous work The Birds of America. It is now not recognised as a valid species. Theories about its true nature include the following:

• It was a juvenile specimen or sub-species of bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
• It was an invention and that the picture was plagiarised from a picture of a golden eagle in Rees's Cyclopædia.
• It was actually a genuine species, but it was rare and became extinct after Audubon's sightings.

John James Audubon's painting of the bird was acquired by Sidney Dillon Ripley, and his family donated it to the Smithsonian American Art Museum in 1994.

Further reading

Allen, J. A. 1870. What is the ‘Washington Eagle'? The American Naturalist 4: pp 524–527

Audubon, J. J. 1828. Notes on the Bird of Washington (Fálco Washingtoniàna), or Great American Sea Eagle. Magazine of Natural History 1: pp 115–120.

Maruna, S. 2006. Substantiating Audubon's Washington Eagle. Ohio Cardinal 29: pp 140–150.

Notes and References

1. Book: Strickland, H. E.. Strickland. H. E.. Jardine. W.. 1855. Ornithological Synonyms. Vol. I. Accipitres. London. John van Voorst.