Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult Forever Stamp 2026
In 2026, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates one of America’s most recognizable symbols with a new stamp series honoring the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Titled “Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult,” the collection presents a realistic portrayal of this national bird throughout its remarkable journey from infancy to maturity.
The bald eagle has represented the United States since the earliest years of the republic. On June 20, 1782, Congress officially selected the bald eagle as the nation’s emblem, recognizing this native North American species as a fitting symbol of ideals such as freedom, bravery, resilience, and strength. The bird occupies a prominent place on the Great Seal of the United States, where it is depicted holding a shield decorated with 13 red and white stripes representing the original states. Beyond the seal, the bald eagle continues to appear throughout American life, including on the U.S. Postal Service emblem, currency, military symbols, government buildings, flags, and countless cultural and commercial designs.
For many Native American communities, the bald eagle also carries deep spiritual and cultural meaning. Eagle feathers have played important roles in traditional ceremonies and practices for generations, while eagles themselves appear prominently in Indigenous stories, beliefs, and legends.
Designed by art director Derry Noyes, the Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult stamps continue the Postal Service’s long history of honoring this iconic bird. Bald eagles first appeared on U.S. stamps in 1869, and since then they have been featured in numerous stamp issues, stamped envelopes, and postal cards. Previous designs have included everything from decorative Art Deco interpretations to photographs of eagle carvings. For this release, however, Noyes chose a more natural approach, highlighting realistic images rather than the stylized representations often seen in earlier issues.
The five stamps together tell the story of the bald eagle’s development:
* The first stamp depicts the earliest stage of life, showing two hatchlings covered in soft white down. An adult eagle appears in the upper left, feeding one of the young birds in the nest.
* The second stamp features two eaglets at approximately four weeks old. Their posture is stronger, and their once-bright down has developed into a softer gray-white covering.
* The third stamp shows a one-year-old juvenile eagle facing right. Most of its baby down has disappeared, replaced by gray-brown feathers that give it a more mature appearance.
* The fourth stamp portrays a two-year-old eagle with a head that has become mostly white. Its chest and wing feathers display a mixture of gray and white, while its beak has transitioned from a darker shade to the brighter yellow-gray color associated with adulthood.
* The fifth stamp presents a fully mature bald eagle, featuring the familiar adult characteristics: a white head and neck, consistent gray-brown body feathers, and a vivid yellow beak.
The surrounding selvage includes a photograph by Craig Goodwin showing an adult eagle standing behind two hatchlings in their nest. The title “Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult” appears prominently in large white lettering. Each stamp includes vertical black text identifying the bird’s life stage, ranging from “one week old” and “four weeks old” to “one year old,” “two years old,” and “adult.” The words “Forever USA” appear in small black lowercase lettering at the top or bottom of each stamp.
The artwork marks the first collaboration between the Postal Service and acclaimed bird illustrator David Allen Sibley. Noyes selected Sibley for the project because of his extensive experience as a bird expert, author, and illustrator, noting that his detailed field guides and recent artwork made him an ideal choice for capturing the eagle’s life cycle.
Sibley explains that although nearly every American recognizes the bald eagle as the nation’s bird, many people are unfamiliar with the challenges and transformations involved in reaching adulthood. By showing the species through different stages of growth, the stamp series reveals that the iconic adult eagle represents years of development, adaptation, migration, survival, and experience. He hopes the designs encourage curiosity and inspire a deeper appreciation for these remarkable birds.
The 2026 Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult stamps are issued as Forever® stamps, ensuring that they will always maintain the same value as the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce postage rate.
