Eagle Tattoos

The American Bald Eagle

A proud bald eagle makes a striking tattoo. The American Bald Eagle is the national emblem of the United States of America, and has been since 1782.

Bald eagles are found only in North America. They’re more common in the Northwest part of the continent, with more than half of the population in Alaska and British Columbia. They can also be spotted along the east coast, from Maine all the way to Florida. Since bald eagles eat mainly fish, they’re most often found where water is nearby.

Eagle Appearances

Getting the right look is important when you're choosing an American eagle tattoo. Bald eagles take on their distinctive appearance at about age four or five. At that point, the head and tail feathers become bright white. An adult eagle’s body is dark brown, its beak is yellow, and its wings can span seven feet. The tail is broad, the wings are rounded, and the beak is curved. Younger eagles have brown beaks and brown or mottled brown and white feathers on head and tail.

You can find pictures at The American Eagle Foundation and the U.S. Geological Survey web site.

More About Eagles

Most eagle tattoos feature majestic bald eagles. But there are many other types of eagles, giving you many choices for your tattoo image. Eagles range in size from small, pigeon-sized birds to predators large enough to carry off deer and monkeys. Various eagles eat snakes, fish, rodents, and even turtles. These birds catch their prey by swooping down and grasping fish or small animals in their talons. Most eagles are meat-eaters, but at least one (the African Vulturine Fish-Eagle) prefers fruit from local palms.

You can learn more at the Eagles page from the PBS TV show Nature.

Meanings of Eagle Tattoos

Eagles usually like to live in tall trees or on high cliffs, and they’re often spotted soaring high above the ground. Because of this, many people think of them as independent, strong, and fearless. Some eagles defend their territory by fighting in mid-air, refusing to back down when invaders approach.

Eagles have extraordinarily sharp vision. Some are able to spot small animals as much as two miles away. Eagle tattoos may show the wearer’s appreciation for this quality: the eagle sees everything, misses nothing.

Designs

Traditionally, eagle tattoos are realistic representations of majestic birds - but they can also be abstract designs, simple line drawings, or portraits of fantastic beasts.

Patriotic Eagles

Bald eagle designs often symbolize patriotism. Design elements include:

• The American flag. The flag appears as a background, grasped in the eagle’s talons, or wrapped around the bird like a cape.
• The eagle’s image. A popular format has the eagle swooping down, wings spread and talons stretched, ready to grasp its prey. Other favorites show just the eagle’s head or portray the eagle at rest, coolly surveying its territory.
• A word banner. Lettering adds a specific meaning to an eagle tat. The banner might have a slogan, the name of a military company, or a word like “Liberty” or “Strength.”

Memorial Eagles

Patriotic eagles also appear in memorial tattoos, often for soldiers, firefighters, or police officers who died in service to their country or community.

Vector image of an eagle.

Tribal Eagles

With the increasing popularity of tribal-style tattoos, tribal eagles are beginning to appear. These tattoos are formed from curving, bold lines similar to those used in traditional tribal tattooing.

Placing an Eagle Tattoo

Eagle tattoos make impressive back pieces. The bird’s wide wing-span allows the tattoo to stretch from shoulder to shoulder. The back has plenty of room for detailed feathers and a unique background.

However, eagles work well almost anywhere. One striking design has the eagle centered on the shoulder, with other design elements stretching around to the back. Eagles appear on hips, ankles, biceps, and forearms, too. They can be worked into lower back tattoos and armbands.

Realistic-looking eagles need to be sized large enough to show the feathers while simpler designs, including those in a tribal style, can be smaller.

Finding the Right Artist

If you want your eagle to look perfect, finding the right artist is essential. Not everyone has the ability to make feathers look natural or to create the eagle’s steely gaze. Check to see if your local tattoo shops have web sites with the artists’ work posted. If you can travel, try national sites like TattooArtists.org that let you see individual artists’ work.

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