Bird Tattoos: The Complete Guide With Meanings!

I’m sure that you know a few people with bird tattoos on their skins, isn’t it? This is because bird tattoos have been a trend for a lot of years, and it’ll be that way for a long time too.

So, I have to write a guide about bird tattoos with the information you need, we are going to see:

• First, a very small introduction about why people love birds.
• Then, the main meanings for a bird tattoo.
• And I’m going to tell you about the main different birds and their different meanings.
• Of course, with a lot of different tattoo designs for you.

Nice, here we go!

Why Do People Love Birds in History?

Well, birds have always been there like a dream for humans, because, you know, birds can fly and we do not.

And, because of this, in almost every culture all around the globe, birds has an special space in the culture

Just a few examples:

• In Western culture, birds have always been related to freedom, but with the divine, for Christians but for the vikings too!
• For Japanese culture, some birds are for good fortune.
• For Ancient Egypt, the ibis was related to Thoth, symbolizing wisdom.
• For Native Americans, eagles were sacred, and symbols for strength.

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Bird Tattoo In Sketch Style

This is the first example I want to show you on this bird tattoos guide.

As you can see, this is a black and gray tattoo with a lot of fantastic linework, all done in sketch style (I do love sketch style, to be honest), with some branches and flowers.

And, you know, the key here is to select the perfect tattoo artist, like this time. This tattoo was made at a tattoo convention in Biarritz by L’Oiseau, a terrific french tattoo artist you may follow.

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Main General Meanings For A Bird Tattoo

Now, let me explain to you just a few of the most significant meanings for a bird tattoo, it doesn’t care about what kind of bird you get inked.

First One, Birds Are For Freedom

Yes, in America and in Europe, the main meaning for a bird tattoo is about freedom and independence, because birds can fly and explore the sky, even they can move very far away without obstacles.

Moreover, when you get inked with a tattoo about a bird escaping from a cage, this is a freedom tattoo!

But Birds Are For Love Too

There are a lot of birds that mate forever, in fact, there are ones called lovebirds, so…

Because of this, a paired bird’s meaning can be, not only about love, but about a true partnership or deep emotional connections between two people.

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This is another example for a bird tattoo, this time, for a green illustration style bird tattoo, a little odd because of this stone (or jade) feeling, but very powerful and bold.

I love the finish of the tattoo and this stone-like-feeling, very hard to get with you get inked.

The tattoo is done by Lighthouse Tattoo & Art Studio, in Seoul (South Korea), and they have truly masterpieces.

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Birds Are For Adventure!

Birds’ lives are about adventure, they usually fly away from one part to another and they can have several houses in different parts of the world.

They are very resilient, and strong, and can face the hard times about almost everything you have in mind.

So, sometimes a bird tattoo is about the adventure spirit of the one who wears it.

Some Other Meanings For Bird Tattoo

Then I’m going to introduce you to all the main meanings for the different kind of birds that people tattoo more, but, just for fun, birds can be for:

• Hope.
• Spirituality.
• Peace.
• Community, when the tattoo is about a flock of birds.
• Or rebirth, specially when the bird is tattooed with a clock, it means the exact moment of that transformation.

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Look at this piece of work. Astonishing, isn’t it?

This is a hummingbird tattoo in a vibrant illustration tattoo, but not a common one.

First, because of the placement, in the forearm and the hand and, moreover, because of the very bright and special color palette.

Both things, especially this color palette is like the personal brand for the tattoo artist, called Jonan Rod, a master in illustration style based in Spain but with several guest spots all over the world.

And yes, you may follow him.

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Different Birds Meaning

And now, let’s dive a little more on the bird subject, because I’m going to show what are the main meaning for the different kind of birds:

Eagle Is For Strength

Talking about bird tattoos, maybe the eagle can be the most inked in the world, and, because of this, it is the first on this list.

Eagle tattoo meaning is about strength, but about vision, because they have magnificent eyes, and independence.

Look at this wonderful tattoo about two fighting eagles, all done in fineline, in black and grey, with a fantastic detail level and a perfect shadowing for the feathers.

I think I’m in love with this tattoo and its movement sensation!

This tattoo is done by Bartek Tattoo, a wonderful tattoo artist mastering illustration style in fineline based in Berlin (Germany), another one to follow on this list!

Hummingbird Is For Joy

But, if you want to get inked with a more party-time bird, maybe a hummingbird is a nice option, because hummingbirds are for joy and energy.

And, you know, because hummingbirds have to eat every time, a hummingbird tattoo is about living in the moment too, like the Carpe Diem bird!

And here you can see another perfect example, this time in realistic style, fully colored, like there was a painting instead of a tattoo!

This style is perfect for hummingbirds because, you know, these birds have very vibrant and bright colors.

The tattoo is done by Alechlam, a terrific polish woman tattoo artist working in Kassel, in Germany.

Dove Is For Peace

In Western cultures, you know dove means peace and love, in fact, dove is the international bird for peace.

But, doves can be for purity and devotion, moreover, in Christian symbology, so getting inked with a dove is a very spiritual thing.

What about this dove tattoo with a very personal illustration style, like the Victorians paintings?

Terrific, isn’t it?

I do like this tattoo style, very personal, with the perfect linework in thick lines, and the fantastic colors for the dove, flowers and leaves.

Just wonderful!

This tattoo is done by Nora Rose, a fantastic woman tattoo artist with this very personal tattoo style I do love, and she is co-owner of Cervida Tattoo, in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Raven Are For Intelligence

Raven and crows are another very special bird to get inked, because they are related to mystery, to intelligence and, sometimes, to death.

In fact, Odin, the Viking god, has two crows, usually represented in the shoulders, one called Hugin (“Reflection”, maybe “Thinking”) and Munin (“Memory”).

And, talking about bold and perfect tattoos, just see this one.

As you can see, a very bold tattoo with two ravens, one on each shoulder, very large, in a perfect illustration style with some color touch and an astonishing final result.

Just another masterpiece!

This tattoo is done by Lindsay Rae, a wonderful woman tattoo artist focused on botanical and animal tattoos, working at Mantis Tattoo Studio in Portland, Oregon, and yes, you may follow her!

Phoenix Are For Rebirth

I think we all know about the rebirth legend of the Phoenix, isn’t it?

And yes, because of this legend, phoenixes are for rebirth and transformation, and you can get a spectacular tattoo with this firebird!

Let’s move on into abstract tattoo style, because you may think abstract tattoo is not for bird tattoos but, as you can see here, picking the right artist, the final result can be just perfect.

I do like this phoenix tattoo because, with an abstract tattoo and just some lines (and a perfect linework), the tattoo artist can catch the soul of a phoenix and ink it into the skin.

The tattoo is done by Yeowool Tattooer, a terrific woman tattoo artist from Hongdae, in South Korea, with some guest spots in other parts of the world, like Australia.

She is focused on fineline and I can say she does not make tattoos, she makes art!

Owl Is For Knowledge

Usually owls are related with the night, because, you know, owls are a night bird, so it makes all the sense.

Moreover, usually owls were related to magicians and sorcerers, and this kind of profession was about wisdom people.

So, owls are for wisdom, for knowledge, and for the connection with the unknown (and death).

And now, look at this barn owl tattoo made with a lot of style!

Just an illustration style barn owl, with black and gray ink, some linework and perfect shadowing to print the movement sensation of these wonderful birds.

This tattoo is done by Zee, a terrific woman tattoo artist focused on illustration and in animals tattoos. She is working at He’s Tattoo, in New York City, and you may follow her.

Swallows Are For Loyalty

Swallows were, for decades, the most inked bird in the world, and I think they are still the most inked ones for sailors.

In fact, for sailors, swallows are the symbol for the safe return. Moreover, they were a legend:

When a sailor falls into the sea and drowns, the swallows will pick up his soul and go to heaven with it.

I think this is the first bird tattoo in this guide made with a Classic American style, and the reason is swallows used to be a sailor’s tattoo a lot of decades ago.

And, as you can see, it can be very bold and eye-catching.

This tattoo is done by Giuseppe Presta, another very talented tattoo artist very focused on the old school tattoos everyone here loves!

Peacock Is For Beauty

If you want an eye-catching tattoo, maybe a peacock tattoo is for you.

Speaking about their meaning, peacocks are usually related with beauty and pride and, in some cultures, with immortality.

And, you know, peacock feathers are a terrific design to get inked, no matter how or where!

And look at this spectacular Art Nouveau tattoo style, with this perfect linework and wonderful color palette of a peacock.

Yes, this tattoo style is very hard to master, and it’s perfect for a colorful bird tattoo, like this one.

The tattoo is done by Ondrej Prchal, he is from Brno, and he is working at Z Tattoo, in the Czech Republic, with his own personal tattoo style I do love.

Hawk Is For Determination

Hawks, or even falcons, are a very niche tattoo, maybe the least tattooed in this list, and it is about focus and determination.

So, if you have a goal-oriented mindset, maybe a hawk tattoo is for you, isn’t it?

This wonderful hawk tattoo is made in a realistic (yet not hyper realistic) style, all in black and gray style, it’s just perfect.

The shadowing effect for the feathers, branches, leaves and even the eyesight of the hawk is perfectly catched by the tattoo artist.

This tattoo is made by Tim Kozak, another wonderful tattoo artist working at The Harvest Tattoo, in Hagerstown, Maryland, and he has a lot of fantastic pieces of work at his Instagram account.

Birds Tattoos Are Just A Thing!

As you can see, bird tattoos have a lot of possibilities in almost every tattoo style on earth and, talking about the different bird species, this subject is very, very large!

I hope you have enjoyed this guide and get inspired!