From the USPS on October 29, 2025:
Since the early days of the republic, these magnificent raptors have appeared on numerous stamps. For a new take on this American icon, the Postal Service will issue a pane of stamps featuring realistic illustrations of bald eagles at different stages of life. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using original paintings by ornithologist and illustrator David Allen Sibley. “While the bald eagle is known to virtually all Americans as our national bird, few people know much about them,” says Sibley. “Showing the series of life stages in these stamps is a simple and visual way to emphasize that the familiar adult eagle has already lived through a series of transitional plumages, finding food, migrating and surviving all of life’s challenges. I hope these stamps spark curiosity and a greater appreciation for the lives of eagles.”
The issue’s formal name is “Bald Eagles: From Hatching To Adult.”
More details will be posted below the line, with the most recent information at the top.
Updated April 16th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS To Release Stamps Honoring National Bird
What: The U.S. Postal Service will issue Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult, a new set of commemorative postage stamps. The first-day-of-issue outdoor event is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #BaldEagleStamps.
Who: The Hon. Daniel M. Tangherlini, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, will serve as the dedicating official.
When: Thursday, May 14, at 11 a.m. CDT
Where: National Eagle Center
50 Pembroke Ave. S.
Wabasha, MN 55981
RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at https://www.usps.com/baldeaglestamps.
Background: Intrinsic to the national identity of the United States since the early days of the republic, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) has been a favorite stamp subject for more than a century. These latest stamps offer a new take on the American icon and 
feature realistic illustrations of the bird at different stages of life. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using original paintings by noted ornithologist and illustrator David Allen Sibley.
The mighty raptor has been celebrated on U.S. stamps since 1869. Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult continues the long tradition of spotlighting these magnificent birds on American postage.
Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult stamps will be issued in panes of 20. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Updated April 15th:
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult Stamps
Item Number: 488500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Pane of 20 (5 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 14, 2026, Wabasha, MN 55981
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Illustrator:: David Allen Sibley, Deerfield, MA
Existing Selvage Photo: Craig Goodwin
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset/Flexographic
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 22,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.0850 x 1.4200 in. / 27.5590 x 36.0680 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 1.2250 x 1.5600 in. / 31.1150 x 39.6240 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 10.0000 x 7.2000 in. / 254.0000 x 182.8800 mm.
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 14.5250 x 20.1250 in. / 368.9350 x 511.1750 mm.
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Bald Eagle • Hatchling to Adult • Plate number in bottom two corners of pane
Back: © 2025 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (488500) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text
Updated April 3rd:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark measures 3.01″ x 1.31″
The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.09″ x 1.15″
From the Postal Bulletin:
On May 14, 2026, in Wabasha, MN, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 488500). These 
stamps will go on sale nationwide May 14, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.
In 2026, the U.S. Postal Service honors the bald eagle, our national bird, with five new stamps. The stamp designs, created by noted ornithologist and illustrator David Allen Sibley feature realistic paintings of bald eagles at five different stages of life. The selvage shows a photograph of an adult eagle with two hatchlings in a nest, taken by Craig Goodwin. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps and pane.
Automatic distribution.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
The first-day-of-issue postmark is a postmark notating the day a stamp is first authorized for use by the Postal Service™. Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. All requests for first-day-of-issue postmarks (Traditional or Digital Color Postmark) must be sent to the following address with the choice of Traditional or Digital Color Postmark identified. All orders must be postmarked by September 14, 2026.
FDOI – Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900
Technical details are not yet available.
Updated February 25th:
The National Eagle Center is located in Wabasha. Wikipedia page. Official website. As of this date, there is no mention of the stamps on its website.
Updated February 17th:
These stamps will be issued May 14 in Wabasha, Minn.
