Continuing with our line of articles of animal tattoos, let's talk about flamingo tattoos, which feature a bird well known around the world due to what it represents for many regions of the planet.
Yes, that bird with long legs and characteristic pink tone that, despite what you may think, is not original, since they adopt this color due to the food they eat. In this article about flamingo tattoos we want to introduce you to the symbolism and meaning of this animal. Let us begin!
What does a flamingo tattoo mean?
Before starting to list all its possible symbolisms, Let's start by getting to know this animal a little more thoroughly, so we can appreciate all its meanings.
The flamingo, a unique bird
flamingo is a highly social animal and forms colonies of millions of individuals, whose vision constitutes an incredible natural spectacle. Also, if you live in North America, I assume you know that the flamingo is the official symbol of the state of Florida in the United States. It has also become an icon over the years to represent large caravan parks.
One of the best-known images of the flamingo is when this bird sleeps resting on one of its legs. The great flamingo, also known as the "American flamingo" stands between 1 and 1,5 meters tall. It has a characteristic curved bill and feeds on algae, plankton, small fish and insect larvae. As we have said, its characteristic pink color is due to its diet, made up of shrimp and other small crustaceans rich in the pigment carotene.
The different meanings of flamingo tattoos
Being present in many parts of the world, and being such a striking bird, the truth is that flamingos have a lot of different meanings, sometimes based on their behavior and appearance, and others with the culture of the places they are. Let's divide them, then, into these two subcategories:
Meaning of flamingos according to their appearance
One of the first meanings that flamingos are associated with thanks to their appearance is the one of elegance and balance, evidently because of its adorable habit of sleeping on one of its legs. In a tattoo, a flamingo in this position represents, as you can imagine, your search for balance.
And, like the balance, flamingos are also famous for their innate beauty, possibly because of the beautiful color of their feathers. Therefore, the more realistic a tattoo is (and the more it seeks to represent the grace of the flamingo) the more it will be related to an innate and unique beauty.
Elegance, unlike beauty, is not totally innate. Flamingos, like us, must find a way to stand on one leg without falling, and even learning to fly. That is why this animal is also related to learning and the ability to make difficult things seem simple.
Meaning of flamingos according to culture
(Source).
In Egyptian culture, in hieroglyphs, the flamingo was the symbol of the color red. The citizens of ancient Egypt revered the flamingo as a living symbol of the sun god, Ra.
By contrast, in North America the pink plastic flamingo has become a symbol of kitsch and bad taste, although it is also closely related to the beach and partying, perhaps because, as we said, it is the emblem of Florida, which during the spring is the central stage for numerous Spring Breakers who want to get out of touch in the area. That is why tattoos in which flamingos are accompanied by cocktails, palm trees or beaches are very common.
On the other hand, in Scotland flamenco is related to professional preparation and with work, a totally original meaning (and one that may not be found anywhere else).
Finally, In fengshui it is considered that a flamingo image placed in the southern part of your house can improve the fortune of your home.
What do pink flamingos symbolize?
(Source).
The pink color of the flamingos, so striking, It is associated with a very special symbolism: that of standing out and wanting to attract attention and not being afraid to do so.. The flamingo is a perfect tattoo for those people who want to demonstrate precisely that with a piece, that they always want to be the center of attention.
The flamenco It is also associated with self-confidence, since it is an animal in which we can be inspired to feel better about ourselves, act with confidence and have an attitude like “if you don't like it, don't look”.
If you want to reflect these meanings, in a tattoo, It is highly recommended that you opt for a design that is very striking, with very bright colors and a style cartoon or neotraditional, with thick and marked lines.
What do flamingos symbolize in love?
Another of the most powerful meanings of this animal It is related to love, probably due to its complex mating rituals., which include complex dance movements and moving the neck and wings. Although not monogamous for the rest of their lives, flamingos are quite faithful, staying with the same mate for an entire season and sharing responsibility for raising the chicks.
For this reason, one of the meanings that is most related to this precious animal is that of love. In tattoos it is customary to reflect with a couple of flamingos. If you want to give it a sugar fix, make the necks heart-shaped in the design!
Small Flamingo Tattoo Ideas
Although flamingo tattoos have thousands of options and possible designs, possibly the small ones are the most popular, since the shape of the flamingo is ideal for simple designs.
For example, you can choose a black and white only design, or with a little color, that is delicate and with a very fine outline to decorate the wrist, the ankle or even the fingers.
(Source).
They also look wonderful on the heel, although it might not seem so due to the shape of the bird, which rather tends to be vertical. However, when raised towards the ankle, the result is a very discreet and elegant tattoo.
And if you want something different, Instead of highlighting the pink color of the flamingo, you can choose to fill its plumage with a mandala or make it out of origami. They are somewhat more complicated designs, but well worn, they look great in discrete sizes.
Flamingo tattoos have a lot of meanings, since they feature a fascinating and very, very striking bird, right? Tell us, do you have a tattoo with this bird as the protagonist? What does it symbolize? Remember that you can leave us a comment telling us what you want, in addition, we leave you a selection of flamingo photos to inspire you!
