It's the bald eagle's cry that can be heard on the opening credits of the popular “Colbert Report” or just about any old western movie. But the cry isn't of the United States' mascot bird—it's actually that of a red tailed hawk!
There are plenty of symbols and icons that help define the United States and its rich history, but rarely are they just plain wrong. Connie Stanger, a bird expert with the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, says Hollywood is to blame for the mix up.
Ever since the days of John Wayne, you've heard the jingle of a spur, whinny of a horse, and the cry of what we once thought was America's bird to signify U.S. patriotism. But that last part is false.
The bald eagle's cry is much more subtle and weak. It's a quiet, muffled chirp and grunt, almost like the sound of a baby pig.
