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

• 
  crane

• 
  dove

• 
  eagle

• 
  falcon

• 
  heron

• 
  martlet

• 
  martlet volant

• 
  moorcock

• 
  ostrich

• 
  owl

• 
  peacock

• 
  pelican-in-her-piety

• 
  phoenix

• 
  popinjay

• 
  raven

• 
  stork

• 
  swan

---

Postures of Birds as Exemplified by the Eagle

• 
  eagle close

• 
  eagle rising, wings elevated & addorsed

• 
  eagle rising, wings addorsed & inverted

• 
  eagle rising, wings elevated & displayed

• 
  eagle rising, wings displayed & inverted
  

• 
  eagle displayed

• 
  eagle displayed with wings inverted

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

• 
  double-headed eagle displayed

• 
  Napoleonic eagle