Photo by Ken Smith Ken Smith says this eagle has been named Samuel Sinclair, who is the founder of the village of Sinclairville.

SINCLAIRVILLE — A bald eagle is soaring into hearts in this village.

The proud, defiant symbol of American freedom has dropped in almost every day for the past month, according to resident Ken Smith. Residents have named him Maj. Samuel Sinclair, after the Revolutionary War veteran who founded the village in 1809.

“I kept seeing him and seeing him and seeing him,” he said. “Finally, I decided, ‘I need some pictures of this guy.’ “

Smith set up on a hill between Old Route 60 and Andrews Road, where the eagle has been seen the most. “It took days,” he said. “He’s a wary guy.”

While up there, he noticed something: Sinclair has a wingman. “There’s actually a pair of them,” he said. While Sinclair came down to the ground and Smith was able to photograph him, the companion stayed up in the trees.

The eagles are believed to nest in the gravel pit next to Route 60. They were seen occasionally around the village last fall, but started showing up every day about a month ago.