Charges: Birds

Bird charges play a large and important role in heraldy. Almost every species known has been emblazoned in some form or another. Species in use range from doves and owls to peacocks and swans. Over all, the charge most frequently seen is that of the eagle, followed closely by that of the falcon.

As important as the species' of birds themselves are their postures, shown below by the different eagle charges.

cock

cock

crane

crane

dove

dove

eagle

eagle

falcon

falcon

heron

heron

martlet

martlet

martlet volant

martlet volant

moorcock

moorcock

ostrich

ostrich

owl

owl

peacock

peacock

pelican

pelican-in-her-piety

phoenix

phoenix

popinjay

popinjay

raven

raven

stork

stork

swan

swan


Postures of Birds as Exemplified by the Eagle

eagle close

eagle close

eagle rising, wings elevated & addorsed

eagle rising, wings elevated & addorsed

eagle rising, wings addorsed & inverted

eagle rising, wings addorsed & inverted

eagle rising, wings elevated & displayed

eagle rising, wings elevated & displayed

eagle rising, wings elevated & displayed

eagle rising, wings displayed & inverted

eagle displayed, wings inverted

eagle displayed

eagle rising, wings displayed & inverted

eagle displayed with wings inverted

 

Ocasionally specific birds will have variations of posture unique to themselves. For the eagle these include:

 

double headed eagle

double-headed eagle displayed

napoleonic

Napoleonic eagle