Ethno-ornithology Sunday: Bird Tattoos

Two ethno-ornithology blogs ago I discussed people using birds as fashion without knowing anything about birds, bird-trendiness if you will. This week I’ll be discussing bird tattoos in general. I’ve discovered some really interesting aspects of this trend. Mythologically speaking birds provide messages from the divine, they guided sailors to land and still guide Africans to honey (honeyguides), are indicators of environmental health and have inspired humans to invent the airplane and helicopter. So, what to bird tattoos “mean.” Obviously they mean different things for different people, though there are some classic meanings assigned to some common tattoos. Birds are often portrayed either with each other (one dark and one light) or with another animal (such as snakes) in order to represent the duality of nature (such as good vs. evil) (www.tattoo-meanings.com 2008). My grandfather has an image of a rooster hanging below his knee, which he told me means “his cock hangs below his knees” when I was ten (to which I giggled endlessly).
Historically speaking Phoenixes (mythological birds that burst into flames, die and then rise again from their own ashes) are common in Japanese tattoos, Eagles in American tattoos and the Iban and Dayak of Borneo began tattooing themselves in order to become as beautiful as the Argus Pheasant (a bird renowned for having the first tattoos). Doves are the symbol of hope, primarily because of the story of Noah, they also often represent peace. In many cultures swallows are a sign of happiness, love, fertility, renewal, transformation and faith. Sailors get a tattoo of a swallow after logging 5, 000 miles and a second swallow after logging 10,000, a swallow with a knife through its heart is a memorial for a friend lost at sea. Interestingly enough, a bluebird tattoo is a sign of 10,000 miles logged, a pair symbolizes 20,000 miles. Bluebirds also represent happiness, prosperity and good health (www.vanishingtattoo.com 2008).
There isn’t a lot of information out there about the history of bird tattoos, either. What I’ve come to learn with this blog is that there isn’t a lot of history about birds and anything on the web. I do know that the trend of getting retro-style bird tattoos is bizarre, but apparently founded (at least on some level). On some level I blame Captain Jack Sparrow (who ironically enough inspired retro-swallow tattoos, not sparrow tattoos).

Argus pheasant from: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/1682483688_13c8e124d9.jpg?v=0


Phoenix tattoo from: http://www.tattoosymbol.com/gallery/phoenix-big.jpg

Dove tattoo from: http://tattoo.about.com/library/graphics/mariedove.jpg

Bluebird (though bluebirds don't actually have forked tails) tattoo from: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2213014225_a9385356fc.jpg?v=0

swallow (again, very un-swallow like) tattoo from: http://z.about.com/d/tattoo/1/0/9/2/debbiechest.jpg

A fantastic chickadee tattoo (what bird tattoos should look like) from: http://www.zhippo.com/johnnyberriosHOSTED/images/gallery/bird.jpg

Tattoo Meanings. 2008. Bird Tattoos. Available at: http://www.tattoo-meanings.com/bird-tattoos.html>. Accessed November 2, 2008.
Vanishing Tattoo. 2008. Bird Tattoos. Available at: http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoos_designs_symbols_bird.htm>. Accessed November 2, 2008.