Timeless Bird Tattoo Ideas for Every Style and Aesthetic

Birds are common across tattoo styles thanks to their simplicity and symbolism. They’re also one of the most common animals seen in nature so people naturally gravitate towards them.

Going all the way back to the start of American traditional tattooing, birds were a popular image thanks to their history; sailors would often get swallows inked to visibly mark them as sailors. It was said that if they drowned, the swallows would carry their souls to heaven.

Nowadays, birds tend to represent more than sailing experience. The animal can symbolize freedom, courage, or even travel. Specific birds have their own symbolism as well, like the dove—which represents peace, faith, and purity—or the phoenix, which represents rebirth and second chances.

Pilar Zurita, an Artist at Atelier Eva, says that birds represent the different stages of life and the need for connection. “Primarily, people gravitate towards bird tattoos as they tend to symbolize the fleeting nature of life—a common allegory for transitional periods, the instinct to keep moving forward and flying in a close, familial group.”

“Bird tattoos are so popular as they tend to represent family and lineage connections. Traditionally in my Ukrainian culture, birds represent family,” says Koral Ladna, a Resident Artist at INKED NYC.

If you’re interested in a bird tattoo but need more inspiration, here are 27 different bird tattoos to get your imagination going.

Pilar Zurita is a Mad Rabbit Pro Team Member and is an Artist at Atelier Eva.

Koral Ladna is a Mad Rabbit Pro Team Member and a Resident Artist at Inked NYC.

Realistic Hummingbird Tattoo

Picture background

Realistic hummingbird tattoos require a lot of shading, but they’re able to remain feeling light thanks to the delicate nature of the bird itself. Ask your artist to use gradient shading to add dimension to the design as well.

Hummingbird Tattoo With Varied Line Thicknesses

Hummingbirds have a very distinct shape (and beak!), so it’s easy to re-create it using fewer lines. This watercolor hummingbird design uses a variety of line thicknesses to create the shape of the bird overtop vivid hues.

Minimal Dove Tattoo

Picture background

Birds are easily broken down into their basic elements for line art or abstract tattoos, and doves in particular are no different. If you like simple ink, choose a design that utilizes the smallest number of lines possible without losing the dove’s image.

Line Art Hummingbird Tattoo

Picture background

If you prefer the most minimalist of minimal tattoos, try a line art hummingbird design. This tattoo seems to be created out of one single line, but manages to nail the major elements to translate the bird through the style.

Thin-Lined American Traditional Bird Tattoo

Picture background

While traditional tattooing is known for its heavy lines, what really makes it that style is the arrangement of lines and the posing of the elements. This bird uses thin lines and no color but still manages to portray the American traditional style.

Vivid Geometric Bird Tattoo

Picture background

Geometric tattoos don’t have to be done in all black ink! If you want to use color, try using colors to denote where the elements sit in terms of background and foreground. For a real pop, make the middle element the brightest color.

Double Swallow Tattoo

Picture background

Swallows are the most common bird type in traditional tattoos, and they’re often seen in pairs. If you like the idea of double swallows, consider getting them in separate areas—like the hands or the ankles—where they can both stand alone and together.

Dove & Moon Tattoo

Picture background

Doves tend to be a sign of peace, but they also hold a lot of femininity in their image. To play up that element of the bird, try adding other feminine elements, like the moon.

Colorful Kingfisher With a Solid Red Line Tattoo

This piece is a colorful Kingfisher bird, which Zurita connected to a chicory flower and other existing tattoos with the movement of a solid red line. “The piece is representative of a very special trip that the individual took to Costa Rica, where the bird resides,” Zurita

Related Posts

Honoring Little Ones with Beautiful Baby Name Tattoos!

Many parents cҺoose to commemorate tҺe birtҺ of tҺeir cҺildren and tҺe love tҺey feel for tҺem by getting tҺeir cҺildren’s names permanently tattooed on tҺeir bodies. TҺe name of tҺe cҺild is featured in tҺese tattoos, and it is common for tҺe name to …

Heartfelt Mother & Son Tattoo Designs with Deep Meaning

Mother and son tattoos serve as a profound testament to the unique bond shared between a mother and her child. These designs, often imbued with personal significance, symbolize not only love but also the deep connection that transcends time and …

Shannon Wolf’s One-of-a-Kind Tattoo Masterpieces!

In a world where tattoo artistry often blurs into trends that come and go, Shannon Wolf stands out as a beacon of vibrant creativity, drawing inspiration from the nostalgic aesthetics of the past. Her work is a delightful homage to retro styles, …

49 Heartfelt Father-Daughter Tattoos That Celebrate Their Unbreakable Bond

When iт comes тo geттing тaттoos, eveгy dad and daᴜghтeг have diffeгenт ideas of whaт тhey wanт. Thaт’s why if yoᴜ wanт maтching тaттoos, iт’s тime тo dig deep and find someтhing тhaт will гepгesenт boтh of yoᴜ. Below is a lisт of maтching faтheг-daᴜghтeг …

Searching for a Meaningful Tattoo? These Moth Designs Are Absolutely Mesmerizing!

TҺougҺ most motҺ tattoos tenԀ to be intгicate anԀ laгge, a simple motҺ on tҺe skin can caггy pгofounԀ symbolism anԀ meaning. Below is a list of simple motҺ tattoos tҺat pгove an empoweгing tattoo Ԁoesn’t have to be complicateԀ. DeatҺ motҺ tattoo …

Irresistibly Adorable Fall Tattoo Ideas You’ll Instantly Love!

Maple leaves and snowflakes – from fall to winter scene source Colored fall leaves back tattoo Orange faded maple leaf Autumn Leaves tattoo Sleeve source Fall leaves and simple vines tattoo Orange foliage lower leg tattoo source Realistic fall leaves …