8 Bird Tattoo Ideas to Try on Your Skin First

8 Bird Tattoo Ideas by Style and Placement

Every idea below is a design you can wear today, with its real size. Pick the one that fits your spot, wear it for 2 weeks, then decide.

1. Hummingbird symbol

A small hummingbird, for the wrist, behind the ear or the ankle. Size: 2 x 2 cm (0.8 x 0.8 in). See the hummingbird symbol design.

2. Fine line swallow

A swallow in flight, drawn fine. On the collarbone, the wrist or the back of the neck. Size: 5.7 x 4.7 cm (2.2 x 1.9 in). See the fine line swallow design.

3. 6 birds in flight

Six birds in a line, for the collarbone, the shoulder or the ribs. Size: 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 in). See the 6 birds in flight design.

4. Hummingbird in flight

A larger hummingbird, for the forearm or the shoulder blade. Size: 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 in). See the hummingbird in flight design.

5. Sunset with 3 birds and a palm tree

A summer scene with birds, flowers and a palm tree, for the forearm or the calf. Size: 5.2 x 5.2 cm (2 x 2 in). See the sunset with 3 birds and a palm tree design.

6. Phoenix

The bird that rises from fire, for the forearm or the shoulder blade. Size: 10 x 6.7 cm (3.9 x 2.6 in). See the phoenix design.

7. Eagle

A large eagle for the chest, the upper arm or the back. Size: 15 x 15 cm (5.9 x 5.9 in). See the eagle design.

8. Chronos and the dove, arm sleeve

A full sleeve with a dove, from the shoulder to the wrist. Size: 17 x 49 cm (6.7 x 19.3 in). See the chronos and the dove, arm sleeve design.

Bird Tattoo Meaning

A bird tattoo often stands for freedom. The swallow was a sailor's sign of a safe return. The hummingbird stands for joy and energy, the dove for peace, the eagle for strength and the phoenix for rebirth. Birds in flight often stand for family or for people you have lost.

Bird Tattoo Styles

• Fine line: small swallows and hummingbirds.
• Birds in flight: a line of small birds.
• Realistic: eagles and large birds with feathers.
• Scene: birds with a sunset, flowers or a tree.

Bird Tattoo Placement & Size

• Wrist, ankle, behind the ear: a small bird of 2 to 3.5 cm.
• Collarbone and shoulder: birds in flight.
• Forearm and shoulder blade: a hummingbird or a phoenix.
• Chest, upper arm, back: an eagle or a sleeve.

Size is the easiest thing to get wrong with a bird tattoo: too small to read, or too big for the spot. Every product page gives the exact size in cm.

Not sure yet? Wear it for 2 weeks

Wear the design at its real size for 10 to 14 days (7 to 10 on the fingers): a real-looking tattoo on your own skin, not an on-screen preview. Want your own bird design? Send your drawing and wear it first with a custom temporary tattoo.

How do you put it on?

Application takes about 5 minutes. The colour develops in 24 to 36 hours, then the tattoo looks like real ink and fades on its own after 10 to 14 days. The ink is plant-based, vegan and free of PPD.

Bird Tattoo Ideas: FAQ

What do bird tattoos symbolize?

Most often freedom. Each bird adds its own meaning: the swallow for a safe return, the dove for peace, the eagle for strength, the phoenix for rebirth.

Which bird tattoo is best?

The one whose meaning fits you and whose size fits your spot. A swallow or a hummingbird suits a small spot, an eagle needs space.

What does 2 birds mean in a tattoo?

Often two people: a couple, a parent and a child, or two friends. Three birds are often chosen for a family.

Where to put a bird tattoo?

Small birds suit the wrist, the collarbone and behind the ear. Birds in flight suit the collarbone or the shoulder. Wear the design for 2 weeks to check the spot.

How can I try a bird tattoo before getting it?

Wear a real-looking temporary bird for 10 to 14 days at its real size. You can see it every day before you commit.