What symbol appears in the center of the white band on Mexico’s national flag?

Mexico’s national flag has the country’s coat of arms in the center of its white band.

The coat of arms shows a golden eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus while holding a rattlesnake. The cactus grows from a rock above a lake, and an oak branch and laurel branch form a lower wreath. This imagery refers to the Mexica foundation story of Tenochtitlan.

Mexico’s flag consists of three vertical bands: green at the hoist, white in the middle, and red at the fly. The emblem is the feature that distinguishes the state flag from simplified versions sometimes used for decoration.

The eagle is often incorrectly described as a generic eagle or a hawk. Mexico’s official emblem specifically depicts a golden eagle, and the snake, cactus, water, and branches are all important parts of the design rather than incidental decoration.