There isn’t a more auspicious bird in the animal kingdom than the swallows. When there is no rain and the land is dry, people look up to the sky to see if any swallows are flying by. As soon as they see them, they celebrate because they believe that spring has come.
For voyagers, swallows play even more of an integral part. They are considered to be saviors of them. In the rough seas where there is no sign of life in all directions, a glimpse of the bird can make you feel at home.
Because of such happy connotations, swallow tattoos have gained a lot of popularity over the years. People can’t get enough of these birds. With these tattoos, the birds will also protect you from all the dark spirits and make you feel comfortable.
Sacred Meaning Behind Swallow Tattoos That Will Blow Your Mind
In each of the cultures, swallows have their own meaning and synonym balm. Writing about all of them can take an eternity to complete. So, we are only going to focus on the meanings that have practical implications. Without further ado, let's embark on the journey.
A Symbol Of Achievement
Many voyagers get the swallow tattoo to immortalize their achievements. You can get it for this reason as well. Sometimes we feel down. The ups and downs of life can break even the strongest of souls. When you see the swallow tattoo, you will be reminded of all the things you have achieved. You will start to feel better about yourself.
Cryptic Verses In the Bible
Swallows are often used in the bible for many metaphors. In Psalm 84:3, it has been said that the god has created a nest for swallows and sparrows. Therefore, he will find you peace and solace as well. All you need to do is have some faith in him. The bird is further depicted to portray the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. So, if you are a religious person, the swallow tattoo is the one for you.
The Portrayal Of Resilience
Although the bird is tiny, they often have to withstand rough weather. During such desperate times, they even migrate to a completely new place and adapt themselves to the climate. Their resilience motivates us to hang on in our lives no matter how tough it gets.
Stunning Swallow Tattoo Designs To Look Stylish
You may be wondering if such a tiny bird will only have a couple of designs. But you are wrong. They may be small but they have a plethora of different colors and shapes throughout their body.
Even if there are differences in their behavior. Some swallows tend to be a bit introverted while others just want to stretch out their wings and fly swiftly.
Most tattoos consist of some additional elements. This is another aspect that contributes to the diversity of the tattoo designs. So, there are quite some options you can choose from. To assist you in your selection process, we have a brilliant list of tattoo designs that we are positive will connect with you on a spiritual level.
Traditional Swallow Tattoo
Traditional tattoos are full of vibrant colors. The same is the case for the swallow tattoo. The rich colors in their plumage truly make them look like a majestic species.
We mostly observe the bird to have a dark blue or white plumage. Seeing the same thing over and over can get quite monotonous. That’s why, tattooists try to change the color of the plumage into something more radiating such as red.
Although the imagery of the swallow is more than enough, it's recommended to add some additional elements such as feathers or flowers. You should always make sure that these elements somehow relate to the birds.
Swallow Tattoo on Hand
Having something in your hand makes you feel invincible. It feels like the object is doing your bidding. The same can be said for the swallow tattoo on hand.
These little birds are quite fast. Within the glimpse of an eye, they can disappear from your sight. It can get near impossible to catch the bird. When you have the tattoo on your hand, you will feel as if you have achieved this impossible feat. Nothing can stop you now.
Navy Swallow Tattoo
In the navy, swallows have a special symbolism and meaning. When a sailor gets a swallow tattoo, it means that they have traveled around 5,000 nautical miles in their career. The artwork dictates that they are skilled in their craftsmanship.
Some even believe that these tiny birds often help people who fall into the sea. Although it seems a bit exaggerated, the swallows have always been considered a symbol of good luck. That’s why, people all over the world opt for this amazing tattoo. The tattoo itself is quite simple. It's just the artwork of a typical swallow gently flying across the sea.
Swallow Chest Tattoo
Chest tattoos are extreme pieces of artwork. They usually portray just how passionate you are about the cause.
Although extremely painful, your chest can be an ideal place for a jarring swallow tattoo. Illustrating the two eyes exactly in the middle of your chest can make the bird appear as if it's looking directly at your soul. When you look at the tattoo, you feel that the swallow is thinking inside its tiny little head and coming up with strategies to destroy your enemies.
Barn Swallow Tattoo
The barn swallows have a very distinct appearance. Belonging to a rather humid climate with plenty of insects, these birds didn't have to migrate a lot of distance. As a result, they are much fluffy than the typical swallows.
The tattoo draws this cute little avian species in a jarring manner. Although the main focus is on one swallow, you should draw multiple birds in your tattoo to elevate the aesthetics. Don’t worry. You don’t have to detail the other birds. Just silhouettes of them are more than enough.
Simple Swallow Tattoo
The simple wall tattoos are perfect in the forearm and sleeve area. These tattoos don’t comprise many colors or patterns.
They appear as straightforward outlines of the birds where you can identify the parts but can’t notice the inner patterns. If you want to represent a notion of love and passion, you should include two swallows in your artwork. This will dictate that you and your loved one will stay forever just like the birds in your tattoo.
Black Swallow Tattoo
Normally, these birds have green to light blue above and a white or brown underpart. However, we are all accustomed to seeing the swallow in these colors. Why not depict them as completely black?
Converting any imagery into its black version makes it look artistic. The same goes for the swallow tattoo. The voidness of color makes each part of the bird quite distinguishable. To make it even better, you can illustrate the bird flying rather than sitting down on a branch.
Swallow Neck Tattoo
Having a swallow-neck tattoo can completely change your persona. You can transform from a shy individual to an alpha male with this amazing tattoo design.
You may not admit this but we all have looked into the mirror and noticed how our neck feels bland. It's almost as if it's downgrading your overall appearance. With the swallow neck tattoo, your neck will become the first thing that people notice about you.
Old School Swallow Tattoo
The contemporary tattooing style mainly focuses on a minimalist approach. Tattooists nowadays hardly attempt to colorize the tattoos.
However, the old-school tattoo is completely different. These tattoos are full of jarring colors that will instantly attract you. As for the old-school swallow tattoo, you can opt for a radiating red color to portray the bird. Floral patterns are always a plus so you should include them in the final version.
Realistic Swallow Tattoo
The realistic swallow tattoo doesn't look like an artwork. It feels like the bird is flying in the realm of your skin.
In nature, these avian species have quite some characteristics. To begin with, they have foveae in both of their eyes which enhances the power of their eyesight.
As they mostly feed on small to medium-sized insects, they have evolutionarily developed to have a streamlined body. So, you should make sure that you capture each of these traits beautifully in your tattoo.
Japanese Swallow Tattoo
There are about eight different species of swallows that exist in Japan. These birds are a common sight from Kyushu to Honshu. If you walk down the streets, you will often hear the song of the male swallow. Their voice is raspy and instantly recognizable.
Apart from their availability, the Hirundinidae family of birds have a lot of significance among the Japanese people. They consider the birds to be protectors of their household. Some even believe that deities take the shape of swallows and patrol the sky.
Watercolor Swallow Tattoo
We have said this countless times. There is no style better than watercolor to depict an elegant natural-looking tattoo. The fluidity of the color creates quite an aesthetic design.
The overall appearance of the tattoo is like any other swallow tattoo. The main difference is that this tattoo has a beautiful and cosmic background that makes the swallow look magnanimous. With a couple of palm trees on the side, you will start to feel relaxed every time you get a tattoo.
Swallow and Rose Tattoo
Both the swallow and rose are emblems of love and passion. The bird’s mate for life because having their tattoo means how dedicated you are towards your lover.
On the other hand, roses have been the symbol of intense love for a long time. The vibrating colors depict how passionate you are about your relationship. Together, they can create a jarring design that will be a testament to your love.
Swallow Outline Tattoo
This is another tattoo on our list that doesn't incorporate a wide range of colors or patterns. The overall artwork just has a simple outline of the swallow along with a symbol of a heart.
These elements are more than enough to express your deepest and darkest secrets. Tattoos aren't always meant to be grandiose. Sometimes they need to be dainty, catered only for the wearer to find meaning in their life.
Mechanical Swallow Tattoo
Mechanical tattoos have been the talk of the town for quite some time now. Combining nature with mechanics creates a behemoth of a tattoo.
The mechanical tattoo can compromise any kind of instrument such as vaults, bolts, or gears. One amazing idea is to draw one side of the bird mechanically with bolts and parts. This way, it will feel like the swallow has a prosthetic wing. How cool would that look!
Swallow Love Tattoo
The quote “Love is in the air '' probably derives from the swallow tattoos. These majestic birds are quite loyal lovers as they don’t even look at any other birds in their lifetime.
That’s why, many people get tattoos to commemorate their love for each other. With a giant love shape and a couple of flowers, the swallow can appear as a vessel that will keep on igniting the passion of love.
Geometric Swallow Tattoo
There is not much to say about the geometric swallow tattoo other than its hypnotizing. You have to see the tattoo twice to fully appreciate the imagery.
The overall tattoo is like any other swallow tattoo. You can illustrate the flying bird in its usual white and dark blue plumage. What sets the tattoo apart is the geometric background. The alluring shapes truly complement the subtleness of the swallow.
Swallow and Butterfly Tattoo
Last but not least is this amazing tattoo that features two colorful natural components. Both have unique patterns throughout their bodies.
The relationship between the two isn’t quite pretty. Most barn swallows eat butterflies. Butterflies may be quick but they are nothing compared to the swiftness of the swallows. With their pointy wings, they can quickly close the gap and decor these whimsical creatures. The tattoo portrays the harsh nature of the wildlife that many tend to ignore.
FAQ
There is tons of information that you can get your hands on when it comes to swallows. But their tattoo version gets no love. You will hardly come across any relevant information.
So, to shed some light on them, we have constructed two burning questions and tried to answer them in the most concise way imaginable. Enjoy.
Q: Which Celebrity Has A Swallow Tattoo?
Ans: There aren’t many celebrities that have swallow tattoos which makes the design quite niche. However, there is one celebrity who rocks two swallow tattoos on the chest area. He is none other than the American singer, Harry Styles.
Q: “Swallow Tattoo vs Sparrow Tattoos” Which Is The Best?
Ans: It depends on the person. If you feel like you are more connected to the sparrow tattoo then you should go for it and vice versa. However, to us, the swallow tattoos will always come on top because of their myriad symbolism and meaning. Furthermore, the streamlined shapes of their body further add to the aesthetic.
Conclusion
A mere article isn't enough to talk about the swallow tattoos. There is so much depth to three tattoos that we can talk for hours and the topic still wouldn't end.
From the wide range of symbolism to their unique appearance, everything about these majestic birds makes them the perfect choice for a tattoo.
As they are small, you can fit the tattoo anywhere you want. You are not confined by space. Just make sure that you capture the liveliness of the bird. It must look like it's alive in your skin.