The Bird Tattoo Trend Isn't Going Away Anytime Soon

Birds have always served as popular tattoo inspiration, and it looks like this go-to style is here for the long run. The "birds of a feather tattoo trend" has been circulating on TikTok throughout 2024, spawning a sea of videos serving up the best ways to rock avian-inspired ink. It's not just one kind of bird tattoo we're seeing pop up on social media, but several breeds of birds drawn in endless ways. And it's this versatility that may be one of the keys behind the enduring popularity of this look — along with the fact that birds are simply aesthetic and can symbolize a world of meaning.

"Bird tattoos are popular I think above all else because they are so visually beautiful," explains Brooklyn-based tattoo artist and designer Rosa Bluestone Perr. In an exclusive chat with Glam, Perr reveals that birds are so appealing because of the alluring symbols they represent. "To me birds symbolize freedom and expansiveness. I think birds are beautiful and wiser than we realize and they are a beautiful tattoo for these reasons." Perr adds that "birds are unbound by the constraints we have as humans," which is why we flock to them. 

There's no right or wrong when it comes to tattoos. As Rosa Bluestone Perr explains in our exclusive chat, "Any tattoo is going to hold different significance depending on the person." The right kind of bird to get inked on your skin will come down to what meaning you associate with that particular breed, and figuring that out is a deeply personal process. 

You could start by looking at what birds are the most common in the tattoo world, and seeing if they resonate with you. "Hummingbirds are a popular tattoo I think because they are so magical," Perr shares. "They move so fast and for many represent people we have loved on the other side." Several other birds also symbolize certain things in popular culture, though this is up to interpretation. Doves, for example, are globally understood to represent peace, so this gentle breed can be a great way for you to convey your personal values. Meanwhile, birds of prey, including eagles, tend to conjure images of strength and bravery.

If you want to explore lesser-known birds for your ink, the robin is a good one, generally representing simplicity and friendliness. For something a little more popular, you could look into getting an owl tattoo, as these birds are associated with wisdom. Crow tattoos are particularly popular because of their spiritual significance, often thought to be a sign of surviving trauma and relating to witchcraft. 

According to Rosa Bluestone Perr, part of what makes bird tattoos so enduringly popular is the fact that they represent freedom. Is there a better symbol of liberty than wings? "I think wings are so amazing, and flight is so different from anything we have as humans," she reveals exclusively to Glam. "Wings are so visually stunning, I love tattooing anything with wings (birds, angels, etc.)."

So one way to embrace the birds of a feather tattoo trend is to explore other interpretations of wings and feathers. As Perr suggests, angels make for great tattoos and can have several different meanings. They're of religious significance in certain faiths, but are also prominent in the spiritual world and signify beating obstacles. Some people feel like getting an angel tattoo helps them connect with departed loved ones and gives them an extra payer of protection. If you're into angel numbers and their meanings, an angel tattoo might feel like the natural next step for you.

Other bird-free wing options include butterflies, bees, and bats, which all have a range of meanings but also just look cool. Butterflies in particular may be very Y2K, but nostalgia tattoos are back en vogue. Sometimes, you'll choose a tattoo because you like the aesthetic and don't care about a deeper meaning, and that's totally fine, too. Of course, you could also just get free-standing wings that aren't related to a bird, an angel, or a butterfly, but are open to interpretation.