A mother pelican tears at her breast to feed her young with her own blood, a medieval emblem of sacrifice adopted here as state symbol. Beneath, the motto: Union, Justice, Confidence. Against a simple blue field, it is strikingly tender, almost devotional.
Blue field with pelican in nest feeding chicks above motto ribbon.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- Legislative adoption
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- Yes
- Animals
- Pelican
- Design type
- Emblematic animal flag
- Complexity
- 5/10
- Readability
- 8/10
- Seal-based design
- No
Colors used
Flag Symbolism
Pelican Feeding Young
Represents charity and self-sacrifice.
Blood Drops
Added in 2006 to emphasize sacrifice.
Motto
‘Union, Justice, Confidence.’
Design Breakdown
The Louisiana flag can be described in a simple build order. This is useful for students learning how flags are constructed.
- Start with the base field described in the construction.
- Add the main shapes first (large stripe, field divisions, or background forms).
- Place the primary symbol(s) in their main position(s) (centre, canton, etc.).
- Finish with details like text, small emblems, and final color fills.
Construction note: Blue field with pelican in nest feeding chicks above motto ribbon.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- Only state flag featuring a pelican feeding its young
- One of few state flags centered on a single animal emblem
- Strongly rooted in Christian heraldic symbolism
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Strong and rare animal symbolism
- Clear emotional message
- Distinct from most seal-based flags
Common criticism
- Includes text
- Pelican symbolism may be misunderstood without context
- Detail varies between official versions
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: Yes
Common suggestions
- Remove the motto text
- Standardize the pelican design
- Use a simplified pelican silhouette
Notable proposals
- Text-free pelican redesign concepts
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Louisiana state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Explain symbolism of pelican and blood drops.
- Identify motto’s values.
Print this
Printable classroom handouts for this flag page.
Cite this page
Copy and paste a ready-made citation.
MLA
APA
Note: Citation formats can vary by school. These are common classroom defaults.
Seal Deep Dive
Pelican
A brown pelican depicted feeding its young by piercing its own breast.
Attributes: Brown pelican, Three chicks, Blood drops
Meaning: Self-sacrifice, care, and devotion to the people
State Seal
The pelican emblem derived directly from the state seal.
Attributes: Pelican-in-her-piety motif
Meaning: Louisiana’s identity as a nurturing and protective state
Motto
The motto 'Union, Justice, Confidence' displayed on a banner beneath the pelican.
Attributes: English text
Meaning: Commitment to unity, fairness, and trust in government
Historical Timeline
Louisiana admitted as 18th state.
Flag officially adopted.
Blood drops formally required in design.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: Emblematic animal flag
Complexity: 5/10
Readability: 8/10
Fascinating Facts
Pelican is Louisiana’s state bird and symbol of charity.
Flag is one of the few depicting an animal feeding its young.
The pelican represents self-sacrifice and care for others.
The banner below the pelican displays the state motto.
The motto 'Union, Justice, Confidence' reflects core state values.
The blue field symbolizes loyalty and justice.
The current flag design was officially adopted in 1912.
The pelican motif has been associated with Louisiana since colonial times.
State Information
- Population
- 4,657,757
- Area
- 52,378
- Founded
- 30 Apr 1812
- Region
- South
