Ten green stars encircle the parrot on Dominica’s flag.
The stars form a ring around the Sisserou parrot, Dominica’s national bird, inside the flag’s red central disk. Each star has five points and is edged in yellow. The ten stars symbolize Dominica’s ten parishes: Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, and Saint Peter.
Dominica adopted its flag on 3 November 1978, the date of independence, although the design was later modified in 1981, 1988, and 1990. The current design includes a green field and a cross made from yellow, black, and white bands. The green field represents the island’s lush vegetation.
A frequent mix-up is confusing Dominica with the Dominican Republic. Dominica’s flag is notable for its purple Sisserou parrot and its ten green stars; the stars are not a count of islands or letters in the country’s name.