The TikTok bird trend refers to a viral dance challenge on the social media platform TikTok where users flap their arms like a bird while dancing to the song “Chicken Wing Beat” by artist Ricky Desktop. The trend started in late 2022 and has since spread widely across TikTok, with millions of videos using the hashtag #chickenwingdance.
Origin of the TikTok bird trend
The exact origins of the TikTok bird trend are unclear, but it appears to have started gaining popularity in November 2022. Some of the earliest videos using the chicken wing dance moves were posted by TikTok users @tizzyent and @theejordyn. But the trend really took off after TikTok mega-influencer Charli D’Amelio posted her own version of the dance on November 28, 2022. Her video now has over 30 million views and helped popularize the bird-flapping moves.
How to do the TikTok bird dance
The dance moves for the TikTok bird trend are fairly simple:
- Stand with feet shoulder-width apart
- Bend knees slightly and keep arms bent at 90 degree angles
- Flap arms and hands up and down near shoulders, like a bird flapping its wings
- Bop head and shoulders forward and back with the beat
- Add in pops and locks of the wrists and elbows for extra flair
Most versions of the dance incorporate these chicken wing flapping moves. People get creative with footwork and arm movements to make each video unique.
Popular songs used in the trend
While many sounds and remixes are used, the TikTok bird dance is most commonly set to these songs:
- “Chicken Wing Beat” by Ricky Desktop – the original song that started it all
- “Only You Freestyle” by Fatboi Gwalla – a popular upbeat remix featuring chicken sounds
- “Freak What U Feel” by Kramer – includes lyrics about flapping wings
- “Chicken Wing Chicken Wing” by Raffunk – a catchy chicken dance song
The energetic, danceable beats and chicken references make these tracks perfect for flapping along to.
Notable variations of the trend
The basic bird flapping dance moves have spawned many creative variations as well. Some popular ways creators add their own spin include:
- Flapping with arms crossed over each other
- Adding floor work like ground rolls while flapping wings
- Flapping one arm at a time then alternating
- Infusing viral dances like the Git Up Challenge in between flaps
- Dressing up in chicken costumes or wearing chicken hats
- Pretending to lay eggs
These kinds of additions help TikTokers put their own unique stamp on the viral dance trend.
Popular TikTok bird dance accounts
Some accounts that have posted particularly popular chicken wing dance videos include:
- @charlidamelio – 30.5 million views
- @tizzyent – 29.5 million views
- @loandle – 18.2 million views
- @rusherrusherrusher – 16.1 million views
- @nicetynice – 12 million views
In addition, compilations from meme accounts like @pubity and @memezar have racked up millions of views on their bird dance challenge videos.
Reasons for the trend’s popularity
There are several factors that have made the TikTok chicken wing dance go viral:
- Nostalgia – The song samples the kids show “Chicken Dance Elmo” from the 2000s which induces nostalgia
- Catchy song – The beat and lyrics are sticky and get stuck in your head
- Simple moves – The arm flapping moves are easy for anyone to do
- Humor – Dancing like a chicken is considered silly and humorous
- Creativity – The trend allows for lots of creative freedom in videos
The combination of nostalgia, humor, and creativity has enabled the bird dance challenge to take off as a fun community experience on TikTok.
Criticisms and controversies
While mostly lighthearted, the TikTok chicken wing dance has faced some criticisms and controversies, including:
- Animal cruelty accusations – Some viewers have accused the trend of being offensive to chickens and promoting animal cruelty. TikTok has policies against content that is cruel to animals.
- Overwhelming hashtag – The #chickenwingdance hashtag now has over 3 billion views, making it hard to get noticed.
- Too repetitive – Other viewers complain the flapping moves get repetitive after a while and the trend is now oversaturated.
- Risk of injuries – Improper form while enthusiastically flapping could potentially lead to shoulder strains or other injuries.
However, most participants don’t seem phased by the backlash and are continuing to enjoy the viral dance.
Impact on pop culture
The widespread popularity of the TikTok bird trend has impacted pop culture in several ways:
- Inspired costumes – Chicken wing dancer outfits are now popular Halloween costumes for 2022.
- Increased chicken wing sales – Restaurants like Wingstop have reported surges in chicken wing orders attributed to the trend.
- Dance incorporated into other apps – The bird dance has also spread to other apps like Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube as its popularity grows.
- Featured in YouTube rewinds – YouTube recap videos have included clips of top creators flapping their wings for the dance.
- Referenced in media – TV shows, news outlets and other media have all referenced the viral TikTok challenge.
The chicken wing dance has fully taken flight as a cultural phenomenon on apps worldwide thanks to TikTok.
Conclusion
In summary, the TikTok bird trend is a viral dance challenge where users flap their arms like wings to upbeat songs. Originating from the song “Chicken Wing Beat,” the challenge took off in late 2022 thanks to influencers like Charli D’Amelio. Millions of videos now exist under hashtags like #chickenwingdance showing TikTokers creatively flapping and dancing. Despite a bit of backlash, the humorous, nostalgic and participatory nature of the trend has allowed it to take off as a cultural phenomenon. The TikTok bird dance serves as one example of the powerful reach of viral trends on today’s social media landscape.