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Next Luxury • Tattoo Ideas • 50 Small Owl Tattoo Ideas

50 Small Owl Tattoo Ideas

50 Small Owl Tattoo Ideas

  • by — Jono Elderton
  • Published on August 31, 2020

  • Updated on October 2, 2023

Animal Tattoos Owl Tattoos

Traditionally the owl represents wisdom and knowledge, dating back to Greek Antiquity and Biblical times.   

Their prodigious, unblinking eyesight, sharp beak, and nocturnal nature helps the owl’s popularity for being brought to life by small tattoo.  

While sometimes seen as an omen of death, small owl body art runs the gamut from grim darkness, to photo realism, and even cartoon cuteness in design.  

The following top 50 small owl tattoo ideas will give you a glimpse of the bird’s versatility and provide you with inspiration for planning your next tattoo choice. 

See more about - The Top 51 Awesome Small Tattoo Ideas

See more about - Top 97+ Owl Tattoo Ideas

1. Small Owl Back Tattoo Designs

Small Owl Back Tattoos alber.haupt
Source: @alber.haupt via Instagram
Small Owl Back Tattoos alicia_casale
Source: @alicia_casale via Instagram
Small Owl Back Tattoos blackinkcuernavaca
Source: @blackinkcuernavaca via Instagram
Small Owl Back Tattoos elias_vader
Source: @elias_vader via Instagram
Small Owl Back Tattoos inktologietattoo_luxembourg
Source: @inktologietattoo_luxembourg via Instagram
Small Owl Back Tattoos josimarliere
Source: @josimarliere via Instagram
Small Owl Back Tattoos mv_tattooer
Source: @mv_tattooer via Instagram
Small Owl Back Tattoos tatt2_raider
Source: @tatt2_raider via Instagram
Small Owl Back Tattoos x_onetattoo
Source: @x_onetattoo via Instagram

2. Ankle and Lower Leg Small Owl Tattoo Ideas 

Small Owl Ankle Tattoos brickartist119
Source: @brickartist119 via Instagram
Small Owl Ankle Tattoos eviljoe65
Source: @eviljoe65 via Instagram
Small Owl Ankle Tattoos nachdiaz_tattoo
Source: @nachdiaz_tattoo via Instagram
Small Owl Ankle Tattoos nutdub
Source: @nutdub via Instagram
Small Owl Ankle Tattoos tattooist_peace
Source: @tattooist_peace via Instagram
Small Owl Ankle Tattoos veronikarupf
Source: @veronikarupf via Instagram

3. Black and Gray Small Owl Tattoo Art

Small Black Owl Tattoos feketetattoo
Source: @feketetattoo via Instagram
Small Black Owl Tattoos inksano.hv
Source: @inksano.hv via Instagram
Small Black Owl Tattoos josevillasanatattoo
Source: @josevillasanatattoo via Instagram
Small Black Owl Tattoos juliebrdtattoo
Source: @juliebrdtattoo via Instagram
Small Black Owl Tattoos luckylamztattoo
Source: @luckylamztattoo via Instagram
Small Black Owl Tattoos matheuslansky.tattoo
Source: @matheuslansky.tattoo via Instagram
Small Black Owl Tattoos mr.jones.tattoo
Source: @mr.jones.tattoo via Instagram
Small Black Owl Tattoos rungbin.kp
Source: @rungbin.kp via Instagram

4. Colorful Small Owl Tattoos

Small Colored Owl Tattoos chriscurtistattoos
Source: @chriscurtistattoos via Instagram
Small Colored Owl Tattoos franco.iemma.tattooer
Source: @franco.iemma.tattooer via Instagram
Small Colored Owl Tattoos ghostyle_alex
Source: @ghostyle_alex via Instagram
Small Colored Owl Tattoos jayblack666
Source: @jayblack666 via Instagram
Small Colored Owl Tattoos mademoiselle_hirondelle
Source: @mademoiselle_hirondelle via Instagram
Small Colored Owl Tattoos natantattoo pl
Source: @natantattoo.pl via Instagram
Small Colored Owl Tattoos specchiotattoo
Source: @specchiotattoo via Instagram

5. Small Owl Tattoos on the Forearm

Small Owl Forearm Tattoos bob_tattoo00
Source: @bob_tattoo00 via Instagram
Small Owl Forearm Tattoos jason.ink
Source: @jason.ink via Instagram
Small Owl Forearm Tattoos kaser_ink
Source: @kaser_ink via Instagram
Small Owl Forearm Tattoos kemeltattoo
Source: @kemeltattoo via Instagram
Small Owl Forearm Tattoos liquid_ink_tattoo
Source: @liquid_ink_tattoo via Instagram
Small Owl Forearm Tattoos pirates_tattooz
Source: @pirates_tattooz via Instagram
Small Owl Forearm Tattoos taratattoo09
Source: @taratattoo09 via Instagram

6. Realistic Small Owl Tattoo Ideas

Small Realistic Owl Tattoos casedb
Source: @casedb via Instagram
Small Realistic Owl Tattoos damadlanoche
Source: @damadlanoche via Instagram
Small Realistic Owl Tattoos david_dagger_
Source: @david_dagger_ via Instagram
Small Realistic Owl Tattoos franck_chasseing
Source: @franck_chasseing via Instagram
Small Realistic Owl Tattoos soloarttattoos
Source: @soloarttattoos via Instagram
Small Realistic Owl Tattoos enricocampi
Source: @cenricocampi via Instagram
Small Realistic Owl Tattoos annafelkatattoo
Source: @annafelkatattoo via Instagram

7. Small Owl Shoulder Body Art

Small Owl Shoulder Tattoos agami_ink
Source: @agami_ink via Instagram
Small Owl Shoulder Tattoos ammar_wakil
Source: @ammar_wakil via Instagram
Small Owl Shoulder Tattoos modifikarte
Source: @modifikarte via Instagram
Small Owl Shoulder Tattoos mois_arttattoo
Source: @mois_arttattoo via Instagram
Small Owl Shoulder Tattoos sadidgarcia
Source: @sadidgarcia via Instagram
Small Owl Shoulder Tattoos el_tito_elias
Source: @el_tito_elias via Instagram
Small Black Owl Tattoos antonia.tattoo
Source: @antonia.tattoo via Instagram

8. Upper Arm Small Owl Tattoos

Small Owl Upperarm Tattoos blackbirdstattooer
Source: @blackbirdstattooer via Instagram
Small Owl Upperarm Tattoos diego_buddhatattoo
Source: @diego_buddhatattoo via Instagram
Small Owl Upperarm Tattoos lotus_drops
Source: @lotus_drops via Instagram
Source: @cams_ink_1331 via Instagram
Small Owl Upperarm Tattoos nadoo_tattoo
Source: @nadoo_tattoo via Instagram
Small Owl Upperarm Tattoos rodmaj.ca
Source: @rodmaj.ca via Instagram
Small Owl Upperarm Tattoos studioinkwell
Source: @studioinkwell via Instagram
Small Owl Upperarm Tattoos tats_by_tyler
Source: @tats_by_tyler via Instagram
Small Owl Upperarm Tattoos tony_mclaurin
Source: @tony_mclaurin via Instagram
Small Owl Upperarm Tattoos zach.hall_tattoos
Source: @zach.hall_tattoos via Instagram
Small Owl Upperarm Tattoos carllito_tattoo
Source: @carllito_tattoo via Instagram

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Small Owl Tattoo FAQs

What does a small owl tattoo symbolize?

The owl symbolizes wisdom and knowledge. In Greek mythology the owl was linked to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and strategy.

An owl sat on Athena’s blind side to protect the goddess so that she could always see the truth. Owls were also mentioned in the Christian Bible as symbols of intelligence. 

Where should I place my small owl tattoo? 

Owls are versatile in style of tattoo and in positioning. They are popular in traditional placements, such as the back, shoulder, arm, chest and lower leg.

The increase in visible tattoo depictions over the past twenty years mean that areas once considered risky are being utilized for small tattoos.

The neck, hands, wrist, ankle and foot, and the ribcage and side are growing in popularity as they can remain uncovered or be hidden effectively.

Why are owls popular small tattoo designs?

Some of the mannerisms that make owls a popular small tattoo motif includes:  

  • Different types of owls make interesting contrasts in application ideas such as the barn owl, snowy owl, or even the tawny frog mouth 
  • With the ability to turn their heads up to 270 degrees, they can quite literally see in almost every direction without moving their body an inch  
  • Their soft feathers and fringes muffle sound to near silence but are great for use in tattoo due to the different texture, linework, and shading possibilities  
  • Owls eyes are large, glowing orbs that can be brought to life by a talented tattoo artist looking to convey a range of meanings with the creature’s look 
  • Owls are versatile – they can be captured via realism, in cartoon/cute mode, or even as staples of American Traditional and Neo traditional tattoo styles
Are owls considered bad luck?

In tribal cultures owls are linked with death. They could be considered an omen of oncoming loss of life. 

In the East they are considered good, protective Feng Shui. Owls are popular in the world of tattoo as a motif linked to wisdom and intelligence or to reflect the acquisition of knowledge or skills. 

With the ability to see in the darkness, owls represent the idea of seeing beyond illusion, masks and deception, or to showcase the power of seeing someone’s true state of mind while uncovering all the dark, hidden secrets.

Jono Elderton

Writer

Jono writes about booze and tattoos for Next Luxury, having spent nearly two decades experiencing both in a variety of situations around the globe.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing from Deakin University.

Jono writes about booze and tattoos for Next Luxury, having spent nearly two decades experiencing both in a variety of situations around the globe.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing from Deakin University.

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