Hummingbird Tattoo Meaning
The hummingbird is one of the strongest tattoo symbols in California. It is the smallest bird that people tattoo, and one of the richest in meaning.
Joy and energy
A hummingbird's wings beat so fast they blur, and it moves from flower to flower all day. It stands for joy, lightness, energy and enjoying the sweetness of life.
Resilience
For its size the hummingbird is remarkably tough: some species migrate thousands of miles, and it can hover, fly backwards and change direction instantly. It is a symbol of endurance and of overcoming what seems impossible.
The hummingbird in Aztec myth
For the Aztecs the hummingbird was connected with Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and of war, and fallen warriors were believed to return as hummingbirds. The bird stood for courage and for the warrior's spirit.
A visit from a loved one
In many families, especially across Mexico and the American Southwest, a hummingbird that appears after a death is seen as a visit from the person who has gone. That is why the hummingbird is one of the most common memorial tattoos, often with flowers, a name or a date.
Hummingbirds in black and grey
Without color the hummingbird is drawn through the texture of its feathers, the shine of its body and the blur of its wings. It fits the wrist, the hand, the collarbone, behind the ear and the forearm, and it often appears beside roses, portraits and religious figures in larger pieces.
Hummingbird Tattoo Questions
What does a hummingbird tattoo symbolize?
Joy, energy and resilience, and very often the memory of a loved one.
Is a hummingbird a memorial tattoo?
Often, yes. In many families a hummingbird is seen as a visit from someone who has died.
What did the hummingbird mean to the Aztecs?
Courage and the warrior's spirit; fallen warriors were believed to return as hummingbirds.