101 Best Owl Neck Tattoo Ideas You Have To See To Believe!

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Reviewed & updated: December 9, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA

Are you in search of grand designs apt for a neck tattoo? This list of majestic owl neck tattoos could give you some clarity in choosing the right pick.

An owl tattoo meaning stands for great wisdom and experience on the part of the wearer.

For a long period in time, it was conceived as a generic symbol for various mafia groups but the owl symbolism has evolved over the years to stand as an emblem of fearless masculinity and supreme wisdom. A simple owl tattoo has become a popular choice for many men and women to exhibit their cool taste in body art and at the same time celebrate their true spirit.

An owl tattoo on the neck is one of those unique styles that most people do not get their hands into. Generally, men are seen to be more inclined to ink their necks with a dark and statement owl tattoo that is enough to separate them from the crowd. Women are no less and have caught up in the game pretty well. However, the neck is a really sensitive area with thin skin, numerous nerves, and nerve endings, and a neck tattoo is bound to be a painful endeavor. But if you are feeling particularly brave and believe to have high pain tolerance, keep scrolling to find these nocturnal birds at their best!

Traditional Owl Neck Tattoo Designs

Traditional owl neck tattoos feature a forward-facing owl with its gleaming eyes and face. Many people avoid going for full-figure tattoos especially in the neck area keeping in mind the pain quotient. The objective is to keep it simple yet attractive and these conventional designs do their part just right. Here the owl sits on the front of the neck with bits of its head and body visible in the work. The lines that you see near the clavicle area are to make the idea come together than looking rather out of place on your neck.

This tattoo adheres to the popular design but goes further forward to add details that make the idea look surreal. For instance, see the lines making up the face and the body of the owl? Thanks to seamless shading techniques that complement the prominent lines and dots near the head and outlines and bring out the charm of the trope. You can try this idea with the owl’s face only and it will still be a magnificent ordeal.

Owl Eye Neck Tattoo

Starting off with a realistic owl tattoo with glowing eyes that are here to turn heads. Among the existing owl species, the great horned owl is a staple for lethal ideas for a tattoo. Crafted in black ink and minute shading for a lively tattoo owl, this tattoo is a fantastic choice for a rather compact-looking bird without much of your neck getting covered.

Owl Tattoo On Back Of Neck

Using black and grey yet again, the style of this back of the neck owl tattoo is a lot different than most of the designs that we see. With clever placement ideas like this one, a full-figure owl could save you a lot of trouble brainstorming for out-of-the-box concepts. The wings are spread on the side of the neck-the area that is a little less sensitive, and the body rests on the relatively thicker skin of the nape, making the design a bit more feasible on the pain scale. This tattoo artist captures the bird mid-flight with its wings wide open and perhaps eyeing the prey. The owl eyes along with the details all throughout the body make it a feast for our eyes to gawk at.

Elaborate Owl Neck Tattoo Designs

For those with high pain tolerance, this tattoo design is your test of pain and patience. In an overall picture of black, grey, and brown, the shiny, forward-facing eyes of the owl make all the difference. This design might remind one of the values that our ancestors used to attach to these birds. Owls were of immense spiritual significance as compared to the other birds, and their cries were often seen as symbols of death or something ominous or bad luck. Though the symbolism was attached to the prophecy of the animal, human history claims to have placed the owl on a much higher pedestal to mean divinity. These highly detailed neck tattoos show that the wearer is aware of the bird’s significance and honour it by placing it in the forefront.

The artist here captures the owl mid-flight and inks in black without much of the ornamentations and colour as seen in the previous design. Instead, the design focuses majorly on appropriate linework that accentuates this monochromatic owl with much of its grandeur. The abstract lines on the body and wings beautify and bring the animal back to life. If you are leaning to a simpler side, this neck tattoo could be of some aid.

Owl Tattoo On Neck With A Skull

This skull tattoo design is a pictorial description of the myths associated with the animal and its connection with death. The bird here carries a skull, and skulls meaning direct symbols of mortality, bad omen, and carries a dark connotation. These birds that represent wisdom are often seen in many cultures as foreseers of truth amidst the darkness, both metaphorical and actual. Although it depends entirely on your perspective and how you see this owl, either as a waver of evil spirits or as the bearer of death, it is hard to deny that these elements make a badass design too cool to handle. You can experiment with these owl tattoos with different things and motifs that will result in a clear, meaningful yet magnificent tattoo that you are proud of for a long time.

Owl Neck Tattoo With The Third Eye

Adhering to the spiritual symbolism, tattoo artists often tend to incorporate other elements that are unrelated to the owl myths but ultimately result in an excellent choice. Here the meaning associated with owls is kept intact but the design is edgy with the blue, third eye placed to highlight the vision of the animal. The significance of the owl’s eyes is highlighted in this detailed design with a definite, black outline that looks fascinating on skin.

Geeky Owl Neck Tattoo

If you wish to move away from the conventional owl tattoos with layers of symbolism, this design could give you some ideas on how to create your unique tattoo. Here the tattoo artist etches on the skin the familiar wise owl prominent in children’s literature. This cute little owl with its nerdy vision could be a great choice for women looking forward to getting tattooed on their necks. Furthermore, placing these small owl tattoos on the side of the neck will relieve some pain that stops many people from choosing neck tattoos.

Mystic Owl Tattoo Designs On Neck

This fiery owl is going to be your staple if you are inclined towards indigenous artforms. The brilliant mixture of red, yellow, and black produces an eye-catching owl tattoo that strikes a balance without going over the top. The colour coordination here compliments the poise of the bird that stands with its wise stature and spirit. These owl tattoos are also perfect for women who wish to strike a balance between the darkish design without compromising on the essence of the idea.

Speaking of the indigenous vibe, this owl is a remnant of the tribal folks with the feathered headdress and charms hanging around. Located on the side of the neck, the design spreads towards the face and behind the ear to give you a full picture of its intricacies and heritage. This tattoo could mean a sort of a tribute to the wearer’s ancestral line, where their culture and wisdom are being represented with the bird.

Owl Neck Tattoo With A Twist

You need to save this one if you like to experiment with fusions in your tattoos. Here the artist morphoses the owl with a butterfly, both of which are prominent when looked at carefully. The black and grey venture highlights the eyes and the beak of the owl, but at the same time, it looks as it were a butterfly with its various patterns. With a neat outline, this owl tattoo will make a statement piece and exhibit your exquisite taste in body art. You can try and experiment with colours as they would look vibrant and attract glances. But if you are allured by the intensity of this design, we would suggest keep it classic and experiment with different motifs.

Detailed Owl Neck Tattoo

How much detail is too much detail? When it comes to owls, the more the better. This necklace of a tattoo does full justice to the beauty of the owls in black and grey. The patterns in the center contribute to a delicate-looking artwork that magnifies the grandeur of the bird. If you are a nature lover, this design will be more appealing due to its realism and attempt to portray the creature in its true essence. But if you are running short on patience, try colours instead of the many shadings and you’ll be good to go.

To sum up, choosing an owl for a tattoo on the neck can result in a grand design depending on your taste and choice of tropes. Both men and women can equally own this tattoo in accordance with their preferences. But above all, a tattoo means self-expression so pay close attention to the designs you select for a lifetime. Your owl tattoo should resonate with you as a person whilst making a statement piece of art. Contrary to what is shown above, you can also select only the eyes, or a minimal outline, or even a fun and humorous idea for your owl tattoo. Having said that, the following are some of our suggestions that you can utilize if you are still wondering where to start:

1. Colour splash barn owl tattoo
2. Owl sitting on a branch tattoo
3. Owl tattoo neck with flowers
4. Snowy owl tattoo design for neck
5. Geometric owl neck tattoo design

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