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Birwinken commune (Thurgau canton, Switzerland)

image by Pascal Gross

Azure a pear plant reversed slipped and leaved Argent.
Christopher Southworth

Birwinken's canting coat of arms/flag is attested as early as the 16th century (Birne = pear, winken = to wave). The colours refer to the city of Zurich.
On 1 January 1995 Birwinken merged with Andwil, Happerswil-Buch, Klarsreuti und Mattwil (see below).

Andwil
Happerswil-Buch
Klarsreuti
Mattwil

See also:

Andwil (until 31 December 1994)

image by Pascal Gross

Per pale Argent and Gules a lion rampant of the Second and one of Or addorsed.
Christopher Southworth

The colours red and yellow are reminiscent of the dominion of Thurgau, red and white of the lordship of Berg. The yellow lion is the Thurgau lion, the red lion the heraldic animal of the Lords of Hugelshofen.

Happerswil-Buch (until 31 December 1994)

image by Pascal Gross

Argent a fox's head caboshed Gules.
Christopher Southworth

The fox is the common heraldic figure for Happerswil and Buch. The Lords of Andwil, the oldest known landowners in Buch, used the fox as a helmet ornament and partly in the coat of arms. The fox was also the heraldic animal of the Lords of Steinach, who owned the Vogtei of Happerswil around the middle of the 14th century. The colours red and white come from the monastery of Constance.

Klarsreuti (until 31 December 1994)

image by Pascal Gross

Gules two lions passant Or in pale.
Christopher Southworth

Klarsreuti was once a so-called High Court, which stood under the reeve (either the Count of Habsburg or the Confederate reeve).

Mattwil (until 31 December 1994)

image by Pascal Gross

Per pale Gules a rose leaved and slipped Argent Or a rose slipped and leaved of the First.
Christopher Southworth

The division symbolises Mattwil's former separation. The roses in both halves originate from the Barons of Güttingen. The colours yellow and red signify affiliation with the bailiwick of Thurgau, whilst the colours red and white signify affiliation with the Lordship of Berg.