Because birds are so symbolic and straightforward, they are frequently used in tattoo designs. They also happen to be among the most often observed animals in the wild, which makes people drawn to them.

Because of its historical significance, birds have long been a prominent motif in American tattoo culture. Sailors, for example, frequently had swallows inked on their bodies as a visible method to identify themselves as such. It was supposed that the swallows would take their souls to paradise if they drowned.