Feather tattoo ideas are connected to travel, freedom, and yearning to fly unfettered, while in Native American culture the feather signifies trust, honor, strength, and wisdom.

Meanwhile, some people attach supernatural connotations, historical meaning, and even aspects of luck and superstition in the depiction of their feather tattoo idea.

The tattoo feather is one of the simplest but most poignant symbols used in almost every application style. Its meaningful origins appealing to every type of body art collector.

There are also different technical and application aspects of feather tattoo design that you can utilize to give extra symbolic or aesthetic significance to your idea.

Check out the article below for a deep dive into the possible feather tattoo meanings you can apply to your own body art concept.

Symbolic Feather Tattoo Meanings

1. Wanting To Fly

A feather tattoo can be simply related to a love of different types of birds, various sporting teams and their mascots, or the simple wish to fly.

The significance varies depending on the feather being engraved, and/or how it’s used in a wider image by your tattoo artist.

In traditional tattoos, for example, a swallow is linked to the sight of land, while an eagle means freedom and rebellion. An owl feather tattoo is linked wisdom.

For many collectors, the idea of flying is a desire that will never be achieved. For these tattoo lovers feather design body art may be the next best thing to having wings.

2. Feathers As Freedom

The most common meaning of a bird feather tattoo is just what you’d expect: freedom. Since time began immemorial man has looked up at the flying bird and longed to join in the sky. 

Feather tattoos also represent characteristics found in various birds such as truth (raven feather), courage (falcon), bravery (eagle), and ferocity (hawk feather tattoo).