If you know that the Spanish word for lion is leon , then you can guess where such names as Leo, Leon, Leonard and Lionel come from. Mammals adopted as national symbols aren t nearly as common as birds, though mammals are much more likely to be depicted on national flags and coats of arms, similar to the lion. The only rodent adopted as a national symbol is Canada s beaver, also a state symbol of Oregon and New York. Birds National birds are far more common than mammals, though birds are much less frequently depicted on flags and arms. Raptors, or birds of prey, are prominent among these feathered symbols.
Stylized raptors grace a number of symbols in the Middle East.
War-like raptors find their opposite in the dove, a universal symbol of peace. Several species of doves have been adopted as national symbols, mostly in the Caribbean, with a couple more adopted by Wisconsin and the Japanese prefecture of Saitama. Birds boasting bright colors or spectacular plumage are common national symbols in the tropics, from Guatemala s quetzal to India s peacock to New Guinea s bird of paradise. Parrots are common symbols in the Caribbean. Game birds are prized as food items, while many tropical species are also brightly colored.