Flags of North and Central America
Recognise the 10 national flags of North and Central America by their colours and design, one family of flags at a time.
10 cards Ā· Geography
Each Zap teaches up to 5 new cards, so you learn the deck a few at a time.
Checked by the Brain Zap team Ā· reviewed 23 Oct 2026
Sources: Gallery of sovereign state flags (Wikipedia), flag-icons by Lipis, MIT licence (the pictures)
Preview
Red maple leaf on white between two red bars
Show answerHide answer: Red maple leaf on white between two red bars
Canada
Learn more: The maple leaf flag was adopted on 15 February 1965. Red and white became its official colours in 1921.
White stars on blue, red and white stripes
Show answerHide answer: White stars on blue, red and white stripes
United States
Learn more: 13 stripes for the first colonies, one star per state. 50 since Hawaii joined; this version dates from 1960.
Green, white and red, with an eagle eating a snake
Show answerHide answer: Green, white and red, with an eagle eating a snake
Mexico
Learn more: The eagle on a cactus recalls the Aztec legend of where to found Tenochtitlan.
Light blue and white vertical bands, with a bird
Show answerHide answer: Light blue and white vertical bands, with a bird
Guatemala
Learn more: The bird is the resplendent quetzal, perched on a scroll with the date of independence: 15 September 1821.
Blue with red edges and a large round emblem
Show answerHide answer: Blue with red edges and a large round emblem
Belize
Learn more: The emblem shows two woodcutters, recalling the mahogany trade. Adopted at independence in 1981.
About this topic
This chapter of Flags of the World covers the national flags of North and Central America. Each card shows a flag and asks which country flies it, with a hint and a short story of where its colours and shapes come from.
North America's three big countries show a leaf, stars and an eagle. Below them, five Central American flags keep the blue, white and blue bands of a federation they once shared.
Learn the family first, then the one detail that sets each flag apart: the order of the colours, a shade of blue, a cross, a star or an emblem. Once you know most of this chapter's flags, the next chapter of the Book starts arriving in your Daily Zap.
All 10 cards
Red maple leaf on white between two red bars
Canada
Learn more: The maple leaf flag was adopted on 15 February 1965. Red and white became its official colours in 1921.
White stars on blue, red and white stripes
United States
Learn more: 13 stripes for the first colonies, one star per state. 50 since Hawaii joined; this version dates from 1960.
Green, white and red, with an eagle eating a snake
Mexico
Learn more: The eagle on a cactus recalls the Aztec legend of where to found Tenochtitlan.
Light blue and white vertical bands, with a bird
Guatemala
Learn more: The bird is the resplendent quetzal, perched on a scroll with the date of independence: 15 September 1821.
Blue with red edges and a large round emblem
Belize
Learn more: The emblem shows two woodcutters, recalling the mahogany trade. Adopted at independence in 1981.
Blue and white bands, with five blue stars
Honduras
Learn more: The five stars stand for the five nations of the old Central American federation.
Blue and white bands, with a coat of arms
El Salvador
Learn more: Its motto, 'God, Union, Liberty', is written around the coat of arms.
Blue and white bands, with a triangle emblem
Nicaragua
Learn more: Like its neighbours, it keeps the blue, white and blue of the old Federal Republic of Central America.
Blue, white and a wide red band
Costa Rica
Learn more: Inspired by the French tricolour in 1848. The red band is twice as wide as each of the others.
White and coloured quarters, with a red and a blue star
Panama
Learn more: Blue and red stood for its two rival parties, white for peace between them. First flown in 1903.
Image credits
- Red maple leaf on white between two red bars: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red maple leaf on white between two red bars
- White stars on blue, red and white stripes: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White stars on blue, red and white stripes
- Green, white and red, with an eagle eating a snake: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Green, white and red, with an eagle eating a snake
- Light blue and white vertical bands, with a bird: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Light blue and white vertical bands, with a bird
- Blue with red edges and a large round emblem: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue with red edges and a large round emblem
- Blue and white bands, with five blue stars: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue and white bands, with five blue stars
- Blue and white bands, with a coat of arms: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue and white bands, with a coat of arms
- Blue and white bands, with a triangle emblem: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue and white bands, with a triangle emblem
- Blue, white and a wide red band: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue, white and a wide red band
- White and coloured quarters, with a red and a blue star: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White and coloured quarters, with a red and a blue star
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