Dominica’s flag shows a purple Sisserou parrot inside a red disk at the centre of its cross. The bird is the island nation’s national emblem and one of the flag’s most distinctive features.
The Sisserou parrot, scientifically Amazona imperialis, is endemic to Dominica, meaning it occurs naturally there and nowhere else. It also appears on the country’s coat of arms. The flag’s green field represents Dominica’s lush vegetation, while the cross reflects Christianity and the island’s three-colour heritage.
Dominica adopted its flag in 1978 as it became independent. Small design changes followed in 1981, 1988 and 1990; the present version includes ten green stars surrounding the parrot. Those stars represent the country’s ten administrative parishes, while the red disk is associated with justice.
The flag is easy to confuse with other Caribbean designs, especially Jamaica or Saint Lucia, but neither displays this parrot. Dominica’s use of purple is especially notable because purple is uncommon on national flags.