A bluebird tattoo most often symbolizes good luck, positivity, happiness, and innocence.
With so many tattoo designs associated with nautical themes and sailors, the bluebird is a favored design in American and Neo-Traditional tattooing, used to represent good fortune, sweet seas, and bright blue skies.
While the bluebird is occasionally confused with swallows and sparrows – they are often depicted in similar ways – it tends to be a slightly sleeker, more brightly colored tattoo image than other old school birds.
The bluebird tattoo is also changing in contemporary ink, being used as a popular, highly detailed, realistic design tied to prosperity and happiness.
The following collection of the top 51 best bluebird tattoos shows off some fantastic pieces of tattoo art you’ll be able to incorporate into designs of your own.
1. Bluebirds in Flight Tattoo Designs
2. Forearm Tattoos
3. Neo-Traditional Tattoo Ideas
4. Realistic Tattoo Art
5. Tattoo Designs for the Shoulder
6. Small Tattoo Ideas
7. American Traditional Style Tattoo Ideas
FAQs
What does a bluebird tattoo symbolize?
The bluebird is a favored design in American and Neo-Traditional tattooing used to represent good fortune, sweet seas, and bright blue skies.
It can also symbolize positivity, happiness, and innocence, and is the rare design that is overwhelmingly positive in all its aspects.
The beautiful blue of the bird can also remind the collector of the blue from a far-stretching sky.
Why is the bluebird popular for traditional tattoos?
The bluebird is a popular image with sailors, who have been at the forefront of tattoo concepts since Captain James Cook’s crew brought “tatau” home from the Pacific Islands in the late 18th century.
The bluebird represents good fortune, sweet seas, and bright blue skies. It’s occasionally confused with swallows and sparrows – they are often depicted in similar ways – but tends to be a slightly sleeker, more brightly colored tattoo image than other old school birds.
What other styles of bluebird tattoo can I get?
Outside of American Traditional and more contemporary Neo-Traditional ink, the majority of bluebird tattoos are realistic designs.
Realism ink is popular in small and mid-sized bluebird designs, often favored by female collectors looking to sacrifice size and pop for quality execution and rich detail.
For others, small simple bluebird pieces, or groups of the bird on the wing are also popular.
Where should I place my bluebird tattoo?
Bluebird tattoos are highly effective for just about any kind of placement. They look great when given the illusion of movement along a collector’s forearm or bicep, or at rest across the wrist.
The bluebird is used in a good mix of traditional tattoo positioning – upper arms, back, lower legs, chest – and the more visible spots such as the hands, wrist, ribs, neck, and collarbone area.