The national animal of Germany is the eagle, sometimes called the federal eagle or Weimar eagle. This has been a very important symbol in Germany since long before our modern conception of the German nation state existed and may date back as far as Charlemagne. It remains a cultural icon today.
Eagle, of course, is not a single species and there are many different kinds of eagle.
The German national animal, then, is more of an emblem than it is assigned to a specific identifiable species.
It is the symbol of the eagle that has always been the more important element of national identity in Germany.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of Germany?
The national animal of Germany is the eagle.
Firstly, for the most part, the officially recognized eagle as the national symbol of Germany is not necessarily associated with a particular species of eagle.
You cannot simply say “eagle”, taxonomically, and be referring to a specific species of bird.
There are many species of eagle and none of them can simply be referred to as “eagle,” there must be some other descriptor beforehand.
So, in this way, you see that the national animal of Germany is more generally a symbol of the country rather than referring to a specific species in the real world.
More on this shortly, as the history of the symbol of the eagle in Germany is fascinating.
On the other hand, though, when pressed, most Germans agree that the specific eagle in question would be the golden eagle.
This is a very important symbol in many European nations and of course the fact is that this is by far the most common eagle in Germany.
Golden eagles favor vast open terrain in cliffs, mountains, and steppe-like grassland.
You will also commonly see them in farmland, shrubland, and even arctic tundra today.
On the other hand, some would suggest the eagle in question is in fact the white-tailed eagle.
These are also very common in Germany and are widely distributed across Eurasia.
They are very similar in appearance to golden eagles, being mostly dark in plumage with brighter heads and many “gold” spots.
But they are, as the name suggests, differentiated also by their bright white tail-feathers.
So, as you can see, Germans do not really agree on a single species as being the national animal of Germany.
Rather, the eagle in general is of greater symbolic importance to the country as it has been for centuries.
Why is the eagle the national animal of Germany?
The use of the eagle as a German symbol goes all the way back to the early Middle Ages.
It’s important to clarify, though, that “Germany” as we understand it is far younger than that.
Of course people have lived there for a long time, but it was for many centuries known as the Holy Roman Empire—this is the nation that encompassed most of modern Germany in the medieval period.
The eagle is and has been a symbol of the sun and life force, and has been revered in Germany since the time of the Germanic tribes.
By about the beginning of the 13th Century, the eagle on the gold field was recognized as the coat of arms of the inheritors of Charlemagne’s legacy.
From the 15th Century, the double-headed eagle was adopted as the national symbol and has since been used in many different iterations of German government and authority.
So, the symbol of the eagle has been far more important to the German people than the actual animal itself, in some ways. though of course the eagle does embody certain German ideals, it is in some ways the simple fact of its heraldic significance that makes it important to Germany today.
Is the golden eagle the national animal of Germany?
Officially, the golden eagle is not recognized as the official national animal of Germany—again, this title merely goes to eagles on the whole and as a symbol rather than a specific species.
But still, most Germans would consider the golden eagle to be the eagle in question if asked.
Golden eagles are without doubt among the most striking of eagle species and very commonly seen in Germany.
Sometimes, though, there is not this direct connection to a specific species when it comes to national animals.
With that said, are golden eagles at risk of extinction?
How many golden eagles are left?
Unlike many other species of eagle, the golden eagle population is actually quite stable.
Estimates are naturally very hard to make with any accuracy and they range from around 170,000 to 250,000 globally.
They are not, presently, at any risk of extinction though of course they do face the same problems that other eagles do, such as persecution and hunting as well as the loss of their habitat.
They have such a wide range, though, that it’s hard to see them becoming vulnerable any time in the near future; but this doesn’t mean conservation efforts shouldn’t get ahead of any potential issues.
The eagle, then, is both a broadly important national symbol in Germany while specifically the golden eagle also is recognized more unofficially as the national animal of Germany.
Eagles have always been important emblems in Germany and to the various peoples that make up the modern German nation state.
This continues to play an important role in German cultural heritage and in the broader German collective imagination.