King of Birds

My latest tattoo continues a theme on my left arm of folklore and mythology, this time it is a Wren, the King of Birds.

The wren got that name from a very old Celtic folktale which follows:

“Long ago, all the birds gathered to choose who should be titled ‘The King of Birds’.

Each species had different powers making it difficult for them to choose the best. So, in the end they decided that the bird who flew the highest will be crowned the King.

As soon as the birds took off into the air, the little wren hid in the feathers of the eagle, because she knew the eagle could fly the highest. The eagle flew higher and higher to a point where he was sure that no other bird could go.

Then as he came down, confident that he had won, he heard a voice from above him claiming ‘I am the king, I am the king!’. It was the little wren who had been hiding in his feathers. She flew above the eagle without tiring herself unlike the rest of the birds who tried to fly high but could not beat the eagle.

So even though the eagle might have won by using his strength, it was the clever little wren who was awarded the title ‘The King of Birds’ because of her wisdom.”

Also the wren’s song was considered to be particularly prophetic and led to the Irish name of “drean”, from “drui-en” which means, rather beautifully, “druid of birds”, but there are so many other tales of the wren including one that is linked to my name Saint, Stephen.

I also love the wren because it is so pugnacious for its size, loud and so defensive of its territory.

I think Miguel captured this perfectly in his tattoo with the shading and white ink highlights.