Attractive water bird, Miami icon, retro symbol, or kitschy lawn ornament: the flamingo carries many connotations for many people.

One thing is certain, the flamingo makes a memorable impression, no more so than in tattoo form.

Contrary to popular Western perception, the flamingo carries a surprisingly significant context. An exotic entrée in bygone Roman feasts (though perhaps it’s better to forget that), the people of ancient Peru worshipped the flamingo and depicted it in much of their art; it is also the national bird of the Bahamas. And let us not forget the infamous croquet scene in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” in which flamingos served as unusual croquet mallets.

Even the origins of the flamingo’s name are worth noting; in Portuguese and Spanish the word flamengo means “flame-colored”, while the Latin Greek form translates to “blood red-feathered.”

Wherever your inspiration in the flamingo is rooted, a tattoo homage is the perfect way to state your own unique vibe and outlook on life. Ultra-mod or in the Victorian vein of “Alice in Wonderland,” the flamingo is a timeless testament to the man who blazes his own flame-colored trail, and isn’t afraid to stretch his legs and strut some pink when the party calls for it.