The current national flag of Columbia, adopted on 26 November 1861, derives from the various flags flown by the United Provinces of New Granada and the Federal Republic of Grand Columbia, whose national flag was a horizontal tricolor of yellow, blue and red. Grand Columbia comprised the present-day nations of Columbia, Ecuador and Venezuela. When the federation came to an end in 1830-31, the three new republics adopted variants of Grand Columbia's flag.
Under the name of the Republic of New Granada, post-federation Columbia initially flew a national flag with vertical red, blue and yellow stripes, with or without the national coat of arms. In 1856, the country's name was officially changed to Columbia and the current flag with horizontal stripes of yellow, blue and red was adopted. The national flag is plain, while naval, military and other official flags generally display the state coat of arms or some other badge. These arms have been modified several times since 1856, usually to update the artistic rendition. The crest of the arms is a condor, a mountain bird native to the country.
Columbia's naval ensign and jack bear the state arms within a red ring. The jack is the same blue-gray color as the rank flags and command pennants. The naval reserve ensign is identical to the merchant ensign, with the addition of a black anchor in the upper hoist. This ensign is permitted to be flown by merchant ships whose masters are naval reserve officers. The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy's flag is the national tricolor, charged with a large black anchor. The other rank flags and command pennants were adopted around 1990, replacing similar designs with white fields and blue crosses. Prior to the adoption of the current designs, the field of the jack and the fly of the commissioning pennant were dark blue rather than blue-gray.
