Sparrow Tattoo

The sparrow is a humble, inconspicuous little bird. It is small, buff and brown in color, hence many times it does not catch the eye as fast as flashier birds do. However, it does not mean it escapes the attention of people around when it simply flits from one place to another in the company of the other sparrows. Although, they are small, there are many meanings attached to the sparrow tattoo, but it is important not to confuse a it with a swallow tattoo.

Meaning of Sparrow Tattoo

Sparrows have long symbolized freedom, true love and also are an emblem for accomplishment. For sailors, it symbolized the long journey completed. However, some former sailors got themselves sparrow tattoos to depict the new found independence. Many times lovers get identical sparrow tattoos made to express their profound love for one another. Some choose to get this tattoo to show, that they are in search of a loved one. Although not everyone will look at a sparrow as a bird of love, but a number of people do, as when sparrows mate, they mate for life. Hence, people also use the sparrows in the context of pairs. When they are posed together, they stand for a current union. If you have a one sparrow looking forward and another sparrow looking backward, it symbolizes letting go of a past relationship and looking ahead to a new one ahead.

Sparrow Tattoo Designs

If you are looking for sparrow tattoo ideas, you may want to consider a nautical sparrow tattoo theme. It was initially very popular with sailors, since in those days, sailors often did not return after they set out in the sea. When the sailor completed 5000 nautical miles on the sea, he would get himself a sparrow tattoo. They were also made because the sailor believed that the sparrows would bring them good luck. Hence, many a time seaman would get a tattoo made before heading out in the sea, in the hope that the tattoo would act as a talisman and bring them back to the home shore safely. Nautical sparrows are often depicted with the nautical star tattoo designs and make for great sparrow tattoos for guys.

These tattoos also have a special place in prison culture, where sparrows were looked upon as a symbol of freedom. However, it does not mean that every person with a sparrow tattoo was a convict. There were convicts who got themselves a sparrow tattoo when they were nearing release.

You can also get a memorial sparrow tattoo in memory of loved ones who have passed away. You can have two birds holding the ends of a banner, which bears the name and birth and/or death dates of the person in whose memory you are getting the tattoo made.

Along with these designs, you can combine other tattoo symbols along with sparrow designs. You can choose to have a heart placed between two sparrows to symbolize love. The bird can also be depicted carrying a maple leaf, which is a symbol of parental love. The other option is to depict the bird nibbling on a ripe apple, which will then symbolize abundance, physical passion and fervent love. It can also be combined with red roses as an emblem of romantic love.

You can make this tattoo on hips, wrists, arms, back or shoulders as well, but they can very much be placed on any part of the body. A number of women choose to get this tattoo made on the foot or also on an ankle. Since these birds are small in size, they can very much be made on a smaller canvas as well.

You can talk to your tattoo artist about sparrow tattoo designs to choose a unique tattoo design for yourself. If you have a good hand at drawing, then you can also draw a tattoo for yourself.