Which flags have animals on them? The full list
Quick answer: 22 national flags in the Trivillion flags quiz show an animal. Birds are the most common: eagles appear on the flags of Albania, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Zambia. Other animals include Bhutan’s dragon, Sri Lanka’s lion, Uganda’s crane, Dominica’s parrot and Andorra’s cows.
Every flag with an animal
The full list, with the animal and where it appears:
| Country | Animal | Where on the flag |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | Double-headed eagle | Centre |
| Andorra | Two cows | Coat of arms |
| Bhutan | Dragon (Druk) | Across the flag |
| Croatia | Leopards, goat, marten | Crown above the shield |
| Dominica | Sisserou parrot | Central disc |
| Ecuador | Andean condor | Coat of arms |
| Egypt | Eagle of Saladin | Centre |
| Fiji | Lion and dove | Shield |
| Guatemala | Resplendent quetzal | Coat of arms |
| Kazakhstan | Steppe eagle | Under the sun |
| Kiribati | Frigatebird | Above the sun |
| Mexico | Golden eagle and snake | Coat of arms |
| Moldova | Eagle and aurochs head | Coat of arms |
| Montenegro | Double-headed eagle and lion | Coat of arms |
| Papua New Guinea | Bird of paradise | Upper fly |
| Serbia | Double-headed eagle | Coat of arms |
| Spain | Lions | Coat of arms |
| Sri Lanka | Lion | Centre panel |
| Uganda | Grey crowned crane | Central disc |
| Vanuatu | Boar’s tusk | Hoist triangle |
| Zambia | African fish eagle | Upper fly |
| Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe bird | Hoist triangle |
Why birds dominate
Birds, especially eagles, appear on more flags than any other animal. Eagles have stood for power and sovereignty since ancient Rome. The double-headed eagle of Albania, Serbia and Montenegro comes from Byzantine tradition, while Egypt’s Eagle of Saladin is linked to the Ayyubid sultan who recaptured Jerusalem in 1187.
Other birds are national symbols. Dominica’s Sisserou parrot is found only on the island. Uganda’s grey crowned crane is the national bird, Guatemala’s quetzal gives its name to the currency, and Papua New Guinea’s bird of paradise lives in its rainforests. The Zimbabwe bird is based on soapstone carvings found at the ruins of Great Zimbabwe.
Lions, dragons and cows
Sri Lanka’s flag shows a golden lion holding a sword, a symbol of the Sinhalese people. Bhutan’s white dragon, the Druk, gives the country its name in the local language: Druk Yul, the land of the thunder dragon. Andorra’s coat of arms includes two red cows from the arms of Béarn, and Croatia’s crown includes a goat for Istria and a marten for Slavonia; the marten is also the name of Croatia’s former currency, the kuna.
Fun facts for quizzes
- Dominica’s flag is one of very few with purple, on the parrot’s feathers
- Mexico’s eagle shows the legend of the founding of Tenochtitlan
- Vanuatu’s boar’s tusk is a traditional symbol of wealth
- Kiribati’s frigatebird flies over a rising sun and the Pacific Ocean
- Bhutan’s dragon holds jewels in its claws, standing for wealth
How to remember them
Group the flags by animal: the eagles first, then the other birds, then the lions. For the eagle flags, use colours to tell them apart: Albania is red and black, Egypt red, white and black, Zambia green with an orange eagle, and Kazakhstan sky blue with a golden eagle.
Flags with animals
Related reading
More articles and games on the same topic.
Browse all geography quizzes and games, or go back to Trivia Mate.
Frequently asked questions
Which flags have animals?
22 flags in our quiz, including Albania, Bhutan, Egypt, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Which flag has a dragon?
Bhutan’s.
Which flags have an eagle?
Albania, Ecuador (condor), Egypt, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Zambia.
Which flag has a parrot?
Dominica’s, which shows the Sisserou parrot.
Which flag has a lion?
Sri Lanka’s, plus the coats of arms of Spain, Montenegro and Fiji.