Bird emoji
π¦ and its flock, ready to copy, with the bird that used to mean Twitter.
Published Β· Updated
What the bird emoji means
π¦ (bird) is a generic small bird; π¦ββ¬ (black bird, Emoji 15.0) is a joined sequence that adds a black square; π€ π₯ are chicks; π¦ the eagle, ποΈ the dove, π¦ the parrot, π¦ the owl. For years π¦ meant Twitter, whose logo was a blue bird; since the rebrand to X it is mostly just a bird again, with π¦ββ¬ occasionally used as a joke about the change.
Unicode name: bird Β· U+1F426 Β· Emoji 0.6 (original set) Β· group: Animals & Nature.
How people use it
- Birdwatching: π¦π
- Spring: π¦πΈ
- Twitter jokes: π¦ β π¦ββ¬
- Specific birds: π¦ ποΈ π¦ π¦ π¦
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| birdU+1F426 | A bird; formerly Twitter | Generic | |
| black birdU+1F426 U+200D U+2B1B | ZWJ sequence | ||
| baby chick / front-facing baby chickU+1F424 Β· U+1F425 | Chicks | Cute | |
| doveU+1F54A U+FE0F | See the dove emoji guide |
Pigeon emoji: what to use instead
There is no dedicated pigeon emoji, but the bird π¦ and the dove ποΈ are both clear choices when you need one. The dove often works for peace, while the bird covers any general bird reference. To make a city pigeon clear, pair the dove with a city landmark, like ποΈπ. The black bird π¦ββ¬ is usually not used for a pigeon, because pigeons are typically grey.
Chat examples
Real messages with π¦, and a reply that fits.
π¦ morning song
lovely
π¦ββ¬ crow on the fence
ominous
π€ chick hatched
cute!
Questions people ask
Does π¦ mean Twitter?
It used to, because of Twitterβs bird logo. After the rebrand to X it is mostly a plain bird.
Why does the black bird show a bird and a square?
π¦ββ¬ is a joined sequence; older devices show its parts.
Is there a pigeon emoji?
No, there is no dedicated pigeon emoji. The dove ποΈ is a good stand-in for peace, and the bird π¦ works for any general bird reference.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the Emoji Directory editorial team, without ads or sponsorship. Meanings describe how the emoji is commonly used in public posts and messages, not an official definition. Names, code points, versions, keywords and translations come from the Unicode Emoji 18.0 and CLDR data; shortcodes from the gemoji project. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake or a new usage? Tell us, or read how the directory is made.
