What type of eagle is on the Mexican flag?

The eagle depicted on the flag of Mexico is a golden eagle. The image on the flag is taken from the Mexican coat of arms. The golden eagle is one of the best-known birds of prey in the northern hemisphere.

The image on the flag shows a golden eagle eating a snake while perched on a prickly pear cactus. Although the Mexican flag has changed several times, the coat of arms has remained largely unchanged. The coat of arms originated from an old Aztec legend that told of gods that instructed the Aztecs to find an eagle eating a serpent and build a city in this location. Allegedly, the city they built is now Mexico City.