 The Tim O 'Brien @-@ designed cover features a gold " mockingjay " – a fictional bird in The Hunger Games born by crossbreeding female mockingbirds and genetically engineered male " jabberjays " – with an arrow engraved in a circle . This is a depiction of the pin worn by Katniss into the arena , given to her by the District 12 mayor 's daughter , Madge Undersee . The image matches the description of the pin that is given in the novel , except for the arrow : " It 's as if someone fashioned a small golden bird and then attached a ring around it . The bird is connected to the ring only by its wing tips . " 
