Some people find tattoos rather fowl but those people are total quacks if you ask me. If you’re looking to get a duck tattoo but are stuck trying to find the perfect inspiration, look no further. In this post, we’re going to share our favorite simple duck tattoos that are small or have a line art style.
Ducks aren’t the most common animal to get as a tattoo, many people choose to adorn their skin with more typically common animals like lions, tigers, and bears…oh my. But as far as tattoos go, ducks have a lot to offer.
If you choose to get a highly detailed realistic duck, you can really honor all the colors that are represented in duck feathers. Even the most common mallards have wonderful iridescent green heads and deep blue accents on their wings. And then there are more exotic ducks like wood ducks who have red eyes and white stripes all over their bodies. The design options are endless.
However, large realistic tattoos are not for everyone. Some of us prefer smaller, more minimalist designs for our tattoos. After all, the smaller your tattoos are, the more you can get. You could even fill your entire arm with a whole raft of ducks! A group of ducks is called a raft, by the way.
What Do Duck Tattoos Symbolize?
Ducks carry a pretty hefty significance in their appearance. Different people interpret duck symbolism differently, but all are important and interesting.
One of the most common interpretations of duck representation is adaptability. After all, waterfowl are known for changing location every six months, flying south for the winter, and back north for the warmer seasons. They can also live on land or in water and they let things roll right off their backs.
In Celtic traditions, ducks stand for simplicity, honesty, and resourcefulness. They can stand for transitions in your life, to be honest, or be resourceful with your needs. As they are connected to the water, they also mean sensitivity, grace, and intuition in Celtic tradition.
In Christianity, the duck is used to symbolize a gift or a blessing which can also align with how hunters see ducks as a prize or a trophy. Both of these represent success and bounty.
In some pagan communities, ducks stand as a symbol of masculinity and power. In others they mean having a sense of community, as ducks are very communal birds, always sticking close with their raft.
You can also use a duck tattoo as a reference to a work of pop culture. Maybe to you, a duck represents a connection to childhood like Donald, Daffy, or Scrooge McDuck. Maybe your grandpa had a lot of duck paintings in his home which reminds you of him. Or perhaps your favorite book is Catcher in the Rye.
There are a lot of reasons someone would get a duck as a tattoo and the meaning behind why you would choose a duck is as different and diverse as the style in which your tattoo is done.
So with the intro out of the way, check out these simple duck tattoos from line art to small realistic styles. I’m sure you’ll get some great inspiration and ideas for your next or first tattoo.
If you enjoyed reading about our simple duck tattoos, make sure to check out the top elephant tattoos.
