Bird tattoos are a popular choice of tattoo design and have been for many years. Birds can hold different symbolic meanings for different people, but some of the most common meanings and reasons people get bird tattoos are freedom, adventure, lightness, ascension, perspective, and spirituality. Some of the most commonly tattooed bird species and types include swallows, sparrows, ravens, eagles, owls, hummingbirds, and doves. Each bird carries its own symbolism and meaning.
What are the most common bird tattoos?
Here are some of the most popular and common bird tattoos and their symbolic meanings:
Swallows
Swallow bird tattoos are very commonly seen. Swallows represent freedom, as they are able to fly wherever they please. Swallow tattoos can also symbolize travel, loyalty, and femininity. Sailors often got swallow tattoos to represent their sailing experience and being at sea.
Sparrows
Sparrow tattoos are also a very popular bird tattoo choice. Sparrows are small and delicate birds, representing innocence, undying love, protection, companionship, hope, and freedom. In Greek mythology sparrows were considered a symbol of true love and commitment since they mate for life.
Ravens
Ravens are a symbol of wisdom, intelligence, adaptability, and prophecy. As a spirit animal, the raven represents magic, mystery, and insight. Raven tattoos are a great choice for those wanting a meaningful design. In some Native American cultures, the raven is seen as a trickster and transformer.
Eagles
The eagle is a popular American tattoo symbol that represents power, strength, wisdom, spirituality, and freedom. Bald eagles in particular represent the values of the United States. A flying eagle tattoo symbolizes honor, potency, pride, dignity, and control over the spiritual realm.
Owls
Owl tattoos symbolize wisdom, intuition, magic, intelligence, mystery, and transition. Because owls are nocturnal and have superior vision, they are associated with being able to see what others cannot. Owl tattoos are a great choice for those wanting a meaningful tattoo.
Hummingbirds
Hummingbird tattoos represent joy, beauty, and freedom. Hummingbirds have fast wing beats and can hover in place, representing agility and lightness. Their long beaks symbolize precision. Hummingbird tattoos are a popular choice among women.
Doves
Doves represent peace, love, romance, gentleness, spirituality, and forgiveness. Doves were important Christian symbols and could represent the Holy Spirit. Dove tattoos are a popular memorial tattoo as well to represent love for a lost loved one.
What are other common bird tattoo styles and designs?
Flocks of Birds
Flocks or groups of birds in flight are a popular tattoo choice. Seeing birds fly together represents community, connection, and family structures. Flock tattoos can also represent working together towards a common goal.
Birds on Branches
Birds like swallows, ravens, sparrows, or finches depicted sitting on branches or twigs represent rest, tranquility, settlement, and connection with nature. A bird on a branch tattoo design represents one’s peaceful place.
Birds and Flowers
Combining flowers and plants with birds in tattoos looks beautiful and brings together the symbolism and meaning of each element. Flowers represent beauty, life, growth, while birds represent the spirit world. This tattoo combination represents the connection between natural worldly elements and spiritual ascension.
Watercolor Birds
Watercolor style bird tattoos look artistic and expressive. The watercolor style appears like the birds are painted lightly with watercolors, incorporating splashes of vivid color with soft edges. This tattoo style looks gorgeous and can lend itself well to making the birds appear lifelike and in motion.
Geometric Birds
Geometric bird tattoos feature birds built using geometric shapes and designs. This tattoo style incorporates circles, lines, triangles, and other shapes to construct bird images. Geometric tattoos represent balance, symmetry, perfection, connection, unity, and can have a spiritual meaning.
Realistic Birds
Hyper realistic bird tattoos aim to replicate birds as realistically as possible. This requires highly skilled tattoo artists. Realistic bird tattoos reflect an appreciation of nature and life through meticulous design to depict birds naturally. This tattoo style involves precise shading and detailing with a 3D effect.
Where are bird tattoos commonly placed?
Bird Tattoos on Shoulders
The shoulders and upper back area provide excellent placement for bird tattoo designs. Shoulder blade tattoos allow for wing span and flight patterns of birds to creatively flow with the shape and curvature of the upper back and shoulder area.
Bird Tattoos on Arms
From shoulder to wrist, arms offer versatile canvases for bird tattoos. Inner forearms in particular are excellent for smaller birds, while full sleeve bird tattoos allow for more elaborate scenes incorporating birds in flight.
Bird Tattoos on Legs
Bird tattoos work beautifully wrapped around legs, thighs, and calves. Thighs provide ample space for larger or fuller scenes. The curvature of the leg allows bird tattoos to appear in motion, as if in flight.
Bird Tattoos on the Chest
The chest is a popular spot for bird tattoos, allowing one to place the image close to the heart. Spread wings and expansive designs fit well on the chest. Depending on placement, the neckline can form a nice border at the top.
Bird Tattoos on the Back
The entire back is an ideal bird tattoo canvas, especially for large, detailed designs or full scenes incorporating multiple birds. Upper, mid, and lower back all work well for bird tattoos of varying sizes depending on personal preference and meaning of the design.
What types of birds make for good tattoos?
Swallows
Swallows are extremely common bird tattoo picks. Their curved wings, forked tails, and aerial movements work beautifully in body art. Swallow travel in flocks, evoking community symbolism. Their return also means loyalty, a coveted tattoo meaning.
Eagles
Eagles represent leadership, vision, power, and protection, perfect for symbolic tattoos. Eagles also make visually striking subjects due to their large imposing outlines and the intricate details of their heads and feathers. Majestic and instantly recognizable.
Owls
Owls are mysterious birds representing secret wisdom, making visually intriguing tattoos. Their large forward facing eyes can be richly detailed. Owls naturally form interesting circular and symmetrical shapes with their wings and bodies.
Crows
Crows and ravens represent omens, prophecy, and magic. Their jet black color provides impactful contrast. Crows are highly intelligent, a coveted meaning. Their strong lines and shapes against darkness are simple yet compelling tattoo motifs.
Hummingbirds
Delicate hummingbirds darting from flower to flower amid vibrant colors make for gorgeously feminine tattoos. Despite their size, they are symbols of power and resilience. Their unique beauty and movements are mesmerizing tattoo subjects.
What other elements go well with bird tattoos?
Flowers
Flowers compliment birds beautifully in tattoos, combining natures symbols of freedom and spirituality. Flowers provide bursts of color while softening rigid lines of birds. Roses, lotuses, cherry blossoms are popular flower choices.
Branches and Trees
Birds naturally rest upon branches and trees. Depicting birds perched on branches framed by leaves grounds them. Branches provide structural outlines that allow birds to stand out. Trees represent resilience and timelessness.
Clouds
Birds naturally fly amongst clouds. Adding soft, billowy clouds floating behind birds enhances depth and perspective in tattoos. Clouds represent dreams, mystery, calmness, and serenity, amplifying airy bird symbolism.
Water
Birds and waves or splashing water combine two natural symbols of fluidity and freedom. Water’s fluid shapes contrast with the rigid outlines of birds in flight for visual interest. Waves crashing against rocks add action.
Sun Rays
Rays of sunbeams shining through the clouds add angelic effects in bird tattoos. Sun rays represent the breaking of a new dawn, beginnings, and overcoming darkness, aligning with bird’s parallel symbolism. The light creates dimension.
Conclusion
Bird tattoos are an immensely popular tattoo choice globally, with deep roots throughout many cultures representing freedom, nature, and spirituality. Birds represent our own soul’s desire to be free and fly high in the skies. There are endless bird species and artistic styles to make these tattoos meaningful and unique. Placement on the upper back, chest, arms or legs allow bird tattoos to take flight. With thoughtful incorporation of complementary natural elements, bird tattoos can create stunning body art.
