Many myths and legends surround Eagle; eagle down, a symbol of peace and
friendship, was, and still is, sprinkled before guests in welcome dances and on
other ceremonial occasions; eagle feathers were used in rituals and worn on
masks and headdresses. Eagle is one of the two main Haida crests, and many
families of the coast still own or inherit the right to use it. As a result, portrayals
of this powerful bird are to be found painted and carved on many museum items,
and it has been a source of inspiration to many of today's native print makers
and designers.

Eagle's beak is considerably shorter than that of Raven, and terminates in a strong
downward curve; the tongue is generally evident also, as are the U-form "ears"
which convey the crest like look of the bird's head. It would be easy to confuse
the Eagle with Thunderbird, except that Eagle never has curled appendages
extending from the top of its head, and its beak is not strongly recurved like
Thunderbird's.