there are loads of birds over on Ravelry, if you feel like it, you may try some, they are mostly very easy to make and happy things to behold. i made the one above from Hannah Kaminsky's free pattern

the best idea of this is still the bird mobile from the 5 minutes blogger; in the dream-baby room:

another of the favorites is Lucy's hanging decoration. it's also a free pattern, and looks something like this or any crazy variation:

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inspired by all and by a friend's drawings, i've tried to come up with some bird appliques of my own, so there you go:

OWL

this owl is approximately 5 cm in height. it can be used as an applique, brooch, hanging ornament, toy - whatever you like!!! if you make another oval shape, you can sew that on its back and add light stuffing, like in the picture.

i guess it can be made in all colors with any type of yarn and matching hook, although i used a bigger hook with thicker yarn for the body and a smaller hook and thin yarn for the rest.
can be done in a jiffy!

BODY::
the oval shape that's the core of it all comes from THIS cute and delightful and popular pattern by Betsi Brunson. look for the muzzle and belly piece.

EYES::
for the smaller one, 10 hdc into magic ring, finish off
for the larger, 12 hdc into magic ring, then a row of sc around, finish off

BEAK::
ch 5, turn, inv dec two times, ch1 and turn, inv dec, finish off

WINGS::
12 dc in magic ring, then a row of sc around, finish off
fold in half or partially slip between the two sides of the owl

finally, sew the parts together, embroider or make some knots for eyes, add ears, legs, any bits and pieces you choose!!

THE KIND NEW ZEALAND PUZZLED SOMETHING

i'm not sure of the species, it may be another owl... or whatever you imagine into it! :) size and specs are the same as well: approximately 5 cm in height, the oval body made with a 3 mm hook and thicker yarn, eyes and the rest with thinner yarn and a 1.5 mm hook.

get creative, embroider, add beads and bits, color up, use as brooch, ornament, toy, et cetera!

here's the pattern:

BODY::
the oval shape that's the core of it all comes from THIS cute and delightful and popular pattern by Betsi Brunson. Look for the muzzle and belly piece.

to get the plump look, make one as the front and one as the back, sew them together and stuff lightly.

EYES::
just make the same oval shape as for the body, finishing with row 1, finish off

BEAK::
R1:: ch 5, sk 1 st, inv dec, inv dec (2 sc)
R2:: ch 1, turn, inv dec, finish off (1 sc)
R3:: turn triangle, join new thread to what was the first ch, make a sc-cluster into the 4 ch's (1 sc), finish off (this creates the diamond shape)

WINGS::
make the oval shape, finishing with row 2, finish off
position wings between the front and back body parts

BELLY::
make 15 hdc into magic ring, then make one row of sc around, finish off

finally, sew body parts together, make legs, feathery bits, nostrils and whatever you like.

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and if you're the fan of owls and books, here's a bookmark based on the free pattern Huhuhuuu Eulen

i modified the original pattern by clarice39 to make the owl taller and to add claws at the bottom.
for the body, turning with ch1 at the end of each row:

R1:: as indicated in the original pattern
R2:: 10 trc
R3:: 2 trc in fist stitch, 8 trc, 2 trc in last stitch (12 trc)
R4:: 2 trc in first st, 10 trc, 2 trc in last st (14 trc)
R5:: 2 trc in first st, 12 trc, 2 trc in last st (16 trc)
R6:: skip first stitch, 14 trc, skip last st (14 st)
R7:: 3 trc, skip 2 st (first claw made), 4 trc, skip 2 st (second claw made), 3trc, slip stitch to side, fasten off