Birds make great tattoos — they are one with nature, meaningful, spiritual, and simply beautiful. In color, black and gray, or a mix of unexpected designs, these bird tattoos are also very inspiring.
Swallows are traditional and timeless — always a good choice of tattoo. But so are finches, and blue birds, cardinals, owls, and parrots.
Check out this fantastic collection of bird tattoos.
Image vie Aimee Heart/Flickr
Finch.
This pretty finch tattoo has a crown to represent King Arthur. It was done by William Yoneyama at Third Eye Tattoo.
Black and gray.
A beautiful designed black and gray hoopoe bird tattoo is a great adornment for your leg.
Morphing birds.
At first look, this tattoo is two birds, but a closer look shows how their wings morph into a butterfly. Beautiful!
Creative bird.
I love the pretty blues in this creative peacock tattoo.
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Gorgeous detail.
Tattoo artist Amy Shapiro created a beauty with this bird tattoo — those wings!
Traditional swallow.
A traditional swallow tattoo will never go out of style. There are great colors on this one done by Jamie Ruth at Good Times Tattoo.
All-knowing owl.
An owl. A book. An umbrella. The evil eye. It's all here.
Purple owl.
I love the softness of this owl tattoo. So pretty in purple.
The flock.
The very pretty sight of birds in flight.
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Majestic.
The shades of blue on this bird are perfect. Tattoo artist Amy Shapiro created this one, which is a coverup. You'd never know something else was once there.
The messenger.
"Be good" is what this guy's mom used to say to him often and so he got this bird tattoo in her memory.
Sweet tweet.
I love the yellow on this sweet little bird.
Red bird.
Red, black, dots, lines, even a bit of geometric designs — perfect red bird.
Branch dweller.
A cedar waxwing on a branch — perfect setting and lovely tattoo placement.
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Wind-up birdie.
I adore this fun wind-up birdie tattoo made by Amy Shapiro.
Meaningful.
This pretty blue bird on flowered branches also holds a rosary.
Owl in flight.
The wings on this owl are so lovely — beautiful placement and another great one by Amy Shapiro.
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Ravens circle.
Ravens are a strong and powerful bird to consider when getting tattooed.
Bird sleeve.
This tattoo is stunning — birds and flowers, always perfect.
Parrot.
Pirates get parrot tattoos. Jack Sparrow approves.
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Meaningful Sailor Jerry style.
Kasey got these tattoos in honor of her cousin who passed away. He thought everyone should have an old-school Sailor Jerry tattoo — and he had swallow tattoos, too. She got these tattooed in his memory and the two birds represent her two kids.
Phoenix.
A mythical bird, the phoenix, is synonymous with rebirth.
Free.
"You can never ever cage a free bird like me," is the quote that accompanies this photo from Aimee Heart.
Mini dove.
Tiny tattoos are super cute. I love this mini dove.
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Teacup sweetness.
Could this be one of the cutest tattoos ever? Tweety in a teacup — adorable.
