Across memes, it’s often called a “birb”—the internet’s baby-talk for any irresistibly cute feathered friend—making it perfect for pet budgie updates and full-on birbposting. Don’t confuse it with the peace-dove, the stately eagle, or the many chick emojis; this is the generic, cheerful songbird that radiates everyday chirp energy, not heavy, ceremonial symbolism.
Think tiny blue songbird with big main-character vibes—your shortcut to chirpy moods, nature-y feels, and a quick “tweet me” cue. On Apple/iOS, it shows up as a bright sky-blue cutie facing right, with a glossy round eye, petite orange beak and legs, and a tidy little wing; the whole thing looks shiny and toy-like, as if caught mid-ponder. Its expression is curious and upbeat, like it’s about to warble a tune or drop a bit of tea.
Online, it does double duty: wholesome springtime soundtrack and a sly wink at the old “bird app” era of Twitter/X. Use it for gossip (“chirp chirp”), nameless subtweets, or to signal you’re flying out of the chat. It fits “free as a bird” freedom posts, travel flexes, and discreet Irish exits. Pair it with a worm for the “early bird gets the worm” hustle meme, or send it as a flirty ping—soft and sweet, and less on-the-nose than a heart.
Definition
Gray bird head with a beak. Unnaturally round and surprisingly cute.
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Emoji History The emoji code/ image log of changes.
This emoji was part of the proprietary / non-standardized emoji set first introduced by Japanese carriers like Softbank. These emojis became part of the Apple iPhone starting in iOS 2.2 as an unlockable feature on handsets sold in English speaking countries.
In iOS 5 / OSX 10.7, the underlying code that the Apple OS generates for this emoji was changed.
