Flags With Animals

31 flags in our collection show an animal. Eagles are the most common, but you will also find dragons, lions, cranes, quetzals and more on national and territorial flags.

Flag of Mexico Mexico Flag of Guatemala Guatemala Flag of Ecuador Ecuador Flag of Egypt Egypt Flag of Albania Albania Flag of Wales Wales Flag of Fiji Fiji Flag of Serbia Serbia Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Flag of Bhutan Bhutan Flag of Dominica Dominica Flag of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Flag of Uganda Uganda Flag of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Flag of Moldova Moldova Flag of Montenegro Montenegro Flag of US Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands Flag of Zambia Zambia Flag of American Samoa American Samoa Flag of Cayman Islands Cayman Islands Flag of Kiribati Kiribati Flag of Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Flag of Anguilla Anguilla Flag of Falkland Islands Falkland Islands Flag of Jersey Jersey Flag of Christmas Island Christmas Island Flag of Mayotte Mayotte Flag of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Flag of St. Pierre & Miquelon St. Pierre & Miquelon Flag of St. Barthélemy St. Barthélemy Flag of Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands

What do animals mean on flags?

Animals on flags usually stand for national character: strength, courage, freedom or a link with a nation's history. Birds of prey such as eagles suggest power and sovereignty, lions courage, and dragons good fortune or protection.

Many animals appear as part of a coat of arms on the flag, while a few are the main design. A red flag with a black bird is nearly always Albania, which shows a black double-headed eagle.

Notable flags with animals

  • Albania, Montenegro and Serbia: double-headed eagles, a Byzantine symbol also seen on Balkan arms.
  • Mexico: an eagle on a cactus with a snake, based on the legend of the Aztec capital.
  • Egypt and Kazakhstan: a golden Eagle of Saladin and a steppe eagle respectively.
  • Bhutan: a white dragon across yellow and orange.
  • Wales: a red dragon on green and white.
  • Sri Lanka: a golden lion holding a sword on maroon.
  • Uganda: a grey crowned crane in a white disc.
  • Zambia: an orange fish eagle above vertical stripes.
  • Zimbabwe: the Zimbabwe Bird on a red star.
  • Guatemala: the quetzal in the coat of arms.
  • Dominica: a Sisserou parrot.
  • Kiribati: a frigatebird over the rising sun.
  • Papua New Guinea: a bird of paradise.

Animals on territorial flags

Many British territories use a shield in the fly. The Falkland Islands show a ram, the Cayman Islands a turtle and a lion, and Anguilla three dolphins. Jersey has the three leopards of England in its coat of arms, and Moldova shows an eagle holding a cross with an aurochs head on the shield. The US Virgin Islands and American Samoa use an eagle too.

Birds are the most common choice, and eagles are the most common single animal.

Some animals are national symbols with a story behind them. The Zimbabwe Bird is modeled on soapstone carvings found at the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, and the quetzal has been sacred in Central America since the Maya. Dragons mean different things in different places: in Bhutan it is the thunder dragon that gives the country its name, Druk Yul, and in Wales it is the Red Dragon, linked with legends of the Britons.

Frequently asked questions

Which countries have animals on their flags?

Albania, Bhutan, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea are among them.

What flag is red with a black bird?

Albania's flag is red with a black double-headed eagle.

Which flags have a dragon?

Bhutan and Wales are the two flags with a dragon.

Which flag has a lion?

Sri Lanka's flag shows a golden lion holding a sword, and the lion also appears on territorial arms, such as that of Fiji.

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