When trying to decide on a new tattoo, the possibilities seem endless. Do you want something meaningful, classic, or just plain cool? A winged beast can meet any of these requirements with your style in mind.
Men have been getting tattoos of birds inked on them for centuries. The first is believed to date back to around 2000 BC on the bodies of Egyptians. During this period, it is thought that tattoos became more than just lines and symbols, but actual intricate artwork showing individuality.
Nowadays, bird tattoos have become extremely popular, and most men choose them for their versatility and personalization options. They are symbols of independence and freedom and represent optimism and happiness. The chest, back, neck, and hands are common areas men decide to show off bird artwork.
Not sure which bird design is the right one for you? Let your imagination fly with these cool bird tattoos for men.
1. Phoneix Bird Tattoo
The Phoenix stands for rebirth. It represents rising from the ashes of ruin to start a new life. Tattoos of Phoenix birds are incredibly eye-catching. It doesn’t matter where you decide to place them. You can choose to get it done in many sizes and designs, including Japanese, tribal and traditional phoenixes.
2. Black Bird Tattoo
Some choose a simple silhouette design to show the shape of the birds. In contrast, others may be interested in a more detailed blackbird. Like the blackbird species, these tattoos are often linked to meanings of secrecy, portraying the unknown, mystery, and magic. Ideal for anyone who lives a reserved, private life.
3. Swallow Bird Tattoo
Swallow bird designs are a popular tattoo for men, primarily for their quirky history. During the height of sailing and colonial expansion, every sailor told a unique story with tattoos. While each design can have slightly different meanings, the overarching understanding is the more swallow birds you include, the more miles you need to travel to return home. Sailors would typically place their tattoo on their chest, arm, or hands. Many even believed that the swallow birds would carry his soul to heaven if the sailor lost their lives at sea.
4. Bird of Paradise Tattoo
Don’t let the name of this tattoo fool you; this gorgeous tattoo is not actually a bird but an exotic flower. This tattoo looks better if you decide to get a design full of colors rather than a black and grey tattoo. The Bird of Paradise tattoo represents individuality, having creativity, beauty, and the confidence to stand out from the crowd.
5. Flying Bird Tattoo
Men who value freedom, autonomy, and optimism will be attracted to flying bird tattoos. It is a reminder that he is free to spread his wings and live his life how he chooses. Many people associate this type of tattoo with the freedom to travel the world.
6. Red Bird Tattoo
Cardinals (and thus cardinal tattoos) are known for their captivating colors. They have a wide range of meanings for different cultures. Some men see the cardinal’s bright red feathers and think of Christmas. For these men, the bird represents happiness, hope, and compassion. For others, this tattoo represents power. Both male and female cardinals are known to defend their territory with ferocity, fighting for hours on end for their domain. With so many reasons why to choose them, red birds make for a great tattoo to show off.
7. Bird Silhouette Tattoo
Bird silhouette tattoos are great for men who dream of soaring in the skies, forgetting about their worries, and living life stress-free. This type of tattoo leaves room for you to interpret it however you choose, as it does not represent a specific kind of bird. Still, it has a more general meaning, symbolizing immortality and spirituality.
8. Tweety Bird Tattoo
If the 90s bring a nostalgic itch, then the Tweety Bird tattoo is a great way to preserve all your childhood memories forever. Tweety bird’s light-hearted nature represents inspiration, good luck, and that child-like innocence.
9. Bird Cage Tattoo
Birdcage tattoos are a powerful image to have tattooed on you and encompass a flurry of meanings from self-protection to breaking boundaries. Birds escaping a confined space symbolize strength, new beginnings, and freedom. Becoming the best version of yourself is a difficult path, but it’s one we are all on. These birdcage tattoos are a great way to show the hurdles you’ve overcome in a straightforward image.
10. Small Bird Tattoo
Representing your wild soul in a bird tattoo can be a little tricky if you can’t have the tattoo showing for work purposes. Solve this by going with a small bird tattoo design. The better areas to get smaller, less noticeable tattoos are around the wrists, behind the ears, on your ankles, back, and fingers. They’re more discreet and give you complete control over flaunting your tattoo.
11. Tiny Bird Tattoo
If you rather be more discreet with your tattoos, you can do a smaller version of a bird tattoo that you can hide and cover without much hassle. The best places to get tiny tattoos are the fingers, the hands, the wrists, back, and shoulders.
12. Quetzal Bird Tattoo
While many bird tattoos captivate your eyes with their beauty, nothing comes close to the Quetzal Bird tattoos. The Quetzal not only shows a side of uniqueness and personality, but it also portrays freedom and liberty to those who tattoo this beautiful species on their bodies. This bird is known to not survive in captivity, which is excellent for those men looking to show the world their free spirit with a stunning piece of artwork on their skin.
13. Bird Feather Tattoo
Bird feather tattoos symbolize similar qualities to other bird tattoos. Feathers represent freedom, bravery, travel, and courage, and it’s up to you to decide how you wish the design to represent your story.
14. Robin Bird Tattoo
If you’re looking to get a new design that symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings, then the robin tattoo is perfect for you. Robin tattoos are often associated with spiritual growth and personal growth, representing your selfless quality and hope for good things to come.
15. Blue Jay Bird Tattoo
Many Indigenous groups believe that the blue jays symbolized clarity of thought, representing someone’s pure soul, mind, and heart. It can also define your loyalty to your family and loved ones, as this species is highly protective of protecting its family. And, with the beautiful blue, white and black shades, it makes a beautiful tattoo piece to carry with you forever.
16. Dove Tattoo
Dove tattoos are popular designs that men get to portray victory, love, peace, beginnings, and a fresh start in life. These tattoos symbolize several positive and uplifting messages. They are a fantastic way to remind yourself that there’s always hope in life.
17. Blue Bird Tattoo
In some cultures, the bluebird tattoos have represented happiness for hundreds of thousands of years. They are seen as omens of positivity when times are tough. In some Indigenous legends, they are symbols of love and renewal, symbolizing life and beauty.
18. Geometric Bird Tattoo
In today’s modern world, geometric tattoos symbolize symmetry, balance, intelligence, and so much more. Bird designs can quickly adapt to geometric tattoos to give your art a more personalized look.
19. Love Bird Tattoo
Getting a love bird tattoo with your special someone represents the love and fidelity you share with that person. Most couples get them to symbolize their union and commitment to one other. You can choose whether you prefer getting the pair on each body or share one of the love birds on each individual.
20. Hummingbird Tattoo
Like most bird tattoos, hummingbirds represent our desire to be free and let go of what weighs us down in life. Hummingbird tattoos also symbolize honesty, optimism, cheerfulness, having hope, and love for life itself.
21. Divergent Bird Tattoo
The famous tattoo of three birds flying together or sitting together represents the symbol of being free, not letting anything stop us from achieving our goals. Divergent tattoos are inspiring pieces that give us hope in our lowest moments.
22. Flock Of Bird Tattoo
Like almost every bird tattoo image, a flock of birds represents being free. This tattoo is pretty popular as it draws attention to whichever part of the body you may have it on.
23. Tree Bird Tattoo
With tree bird tattoos, you have the option of choosing the tree of life symbolizing freedom with the birds flying away; or consider getting a dead tree with birds sitting on the tree as a sign of life in death.
24. Two Bird Tattoo
Having twin birds as a tattoo represents prosperity, love, family relations, and commitment to a loved one or a family member. Many times, couples get this tattoo to symbolize their fidelity and loyalty to each other.
25. White Bird Tattoo
When choosing a white bird for a tattoo, individuals usually think of Doves to symbolize love and peace in their life. Doves represent purity, gentleness, kindness, and beauty.
26. Free Bird Tattoo
Tattoo designs showing free birds represent the courage to be free in life and not live by society’s expectations. It demonstrates bravery, liberty, and the freedom to travel.
Best Placement Options for Bird Tattoos
27. Behind the Ear Bird Tattoo
Getting bird tattoos behind the ears has become very popular, giving you the ability to show your free thoughts as an individual in a sensitive area where you can choose when to flaunt it and hide it, as you need.
28. Bird Chest Tattoo
Larger bird images are great to display on your chest. Many men choose black and grey photos, while others opt for eye-catching vibrant colors for their chest tattoo.
29. Bird Tattoo On Hand
The hand is an excellent area if you’re not planning to get a large bird tattoo. Remember that having the tattoo on your hand is not easy to cover up if needed.
30. Bird Neck Tattoo
A bird tattoo neck tattoo can be pretty painful, but you’ll be the talk of the town wherever you go. Thanks to their placement, the birds’ wings look fantastic in this area, allowing the wings to have movement, bringing your tattoo to life.
Bird Tattoo FAQ
What does a bird tattoo mean?
Bird tattoos have different meanings for different individuals. For many, birds represent freedom, liberty, courage, travel, peace, happiness, and optimism.
What do black bird tattoos symbolize?
There are several tattoo designs with blackbirds, and each has different meanings. Overall, tattoos of blackbirds represent a more profound and higher path of knowledge, higher ideals, and higher intelligence.
What’s the meaning of phoenix bird tattoos?
The phoenix bird has an essential purpose in Greek mythology. In the legend, the Phoenix is the bird that represents the sun that bursts into flames as it dies, rising a new phoenix from the ashes. Phoenix tattoos symbolize power and rebirth.
What do bluebird tattoos mean?
Overall, tattoos with bluebirds represent happiness. Many individuals choose this tattoo to remind them that things fall back into place after every storm, and happiness soon finds you again.
What’s the hummingbird tattoo mean?
Hummingbird tattoos symbolize the desire you have for freedom, and it also represents positivity, love, sincerity, honesty, and optimism.
