Flags by symbol · 10 flags
Flags With an Eagle
10 flags in our collection feature an eagle. The best known are Albania's black double-headed eagle and Mexico's eagle on a cactus.
What does an eagle mean on a flag?
The eagle has stood for power, courage and sovereignty since the Roman Empire. Armies and empires used it on their standards, so the bird is a natural choice for modern nations. It also stands for freedom, which is why the United States has used a bald eagle in its coat of arms since 1782, and why American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands show one on their territorial flags.
Flags with an eagle
- Albania: a black double-headed eagle on red, a symbol of the national hero Skanderbeg.
- Montenegro: a golden double-headed eagle on red with a gold border.
- Serbia: a double-headed white eagle in the coat of arms on the state flag.
- Mexico: a golden eagle on a prickly pear cactus, holding a snake, in the center of a green, white and red tricolor.
- Moldova: a golden eagle with a cross and a shield in the middle of the blue, yellow and red tricolor.
- Egypt: the golden Eagle of Saladin in the central white stripe.
- Kazakhstan: a golden steppe eagle under the sun.
- Zambia: an orange African fish eagle above red, black and orange stripes.
- American Samoa: a bald eagle holding a war club and a fly whisk.
- US Virgin Islands: a yellow eagle with an olive branch and arrows.
Double-headed eagles
Three of the flags show a double-headed eagle. The double-headed eagle was used by the Byzantine Empire, where the two heads are commonly said to look east and west. It later spread to other states in the Balkans and Russia, and Albania, Montenegro and Serbia still use it.
The other eagles on the list are shown in profile. They vary in species, from the African fish eagle of Zambia to the steppe eagle of Kazakhstan and the bald eagle on territorial flags.
Frequently asked questions
What does the eagle on a flag represent?
The eagle stands for power, courage and freedom. It has been an imperial symbol since Roman times.
Which flag has an eagle on a cactus?
Mexico's flag has a golden eagle on a cactus, based on an Aztec legend of the founding of Tenochtitlan.
Which flags have a double-headed eagle?
Albania, Montenegro and Serbia.
Which country has the American eagle on its flag?
The US flag itself has no eagle, but American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands both have one on their flags.
Which flag has a black eagle on a red background?
Albania. Its flag shows a black double-headed eagle on a red field, and the eagle has been the symbol of Albanians since the Middle Ages. The red stands for bravery, strength and valour. See Albania.
Does the Egyptian flag have an eagle?
Yes. The Egyptian flag has the golden Eagle of Saladin in the center of its white band, between red and black stripes. The red, white and black bands come from the flag of the 1952 revolution. See Egypt.
What kind of eagle is on the Zambia flag?
It is an orange African fish eagle flying above red, black and orange stripes in the fly. It is said to represent freedom and the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems. See Zambia.