NZ-made Corten steel bird silhouettes that bring native birds to your garden, fence, or letterbox.
Metalbird is a proudly New Zealand-owned company creating stunning bird silhouettes from premium Corten steel. What started in 2009 as guerrilla street art – secretly installing steel birds around a family home – has grown into a global art project, with each bird precision-cut in a family-run NZ factory.
Key Facts
- Founded: 2009 in New Zealand
- Material: 3mm Corten ‘weathering’ steel
- Made In: Family-run factory in New Zealand
- Specialty: Native bird silhouettes for gardens
- Installation: Trees, fence posts, letterboxes, gates
The Origin Story
Metalbird began in 2009, when the founders started cutting steel bird silhouettes and secretly installing them around a family home. This playful street art approach captured something special – the joy of discovering unexpected art in everyday spaces.
What started as street art has now become a global art project, made in family-run workshops worldwide but proudly rooted in New Zealand.
Premium Materials
Corten Steel
Every Metalbird is precision-cut from premium 3mm Corten ‘weathering’ steel. This is the same material used in famous sculptures like the Chicago Picasso – chosen for its durability and beautiful natural patina.
Natural Weathering
The steel forms a protective outer layer called patina, which seals it off from the elements. Over time, each bird develops its own unique rust-coloured finish that blends beautifully with natural surroundings.
Built to Last
Unlike painted metal garden art that chips and fades, Metalbirds are designed to weather gracefully for decades. The Corten steel actually becomes more beautiful and more protected as it ages.
New Zealand Native Bird Collection
Kiwi
The iconic Brown Kiwi – New Zealand’s beloved national bird captured in steel silhouette form.
Tūī
The charismatic tūī with its distinctive white throat tuft, one of New Zealand’s most recognisable native birds.
Pīwakawaka (Fantail) & Baby
The friendly fantail – often seen following gardeners – now available as a charming parent-and-baby set.
Kererū (Wood Pigeon)
The large, beautiful kererū – an important seed disperser in New Zealand forests.
Kārearea (NZ Falcon)
New Zealand’s only endemic falcon, known for its powerful flight and piercing cry.
Hoiho & Kororā (Penguins)
Both the Yellow-eyed Penguin and Little Penguin are available – celebrating NZ’s unique coastal wildlife.
Installation Options
Metalbirds are designed to perch anywhere in your outdoor space:
- Trees – the classic installation, creating the illusion of birds in branches
- Fence posts – line your boundary with native birds
- Letterboxes – a welcoming touch at your entrance
- Lampposts – unexpected art in urban settings
- Decks – bring nature closer to your outdoor living space
- Gates – a distinctive finishing touch
Conservation Connection
Metalbird partners with Forest & Bird, New Zealand’s leading conservation organisation. By bringing native bird art into gardens across the country, Metalbird helps raise awareness of New Zealand’s unique avian heritage.
Price Range
Metalbirds are priced from around $69.95 to $99.95 depending on the design and size – an accessible entry point for quality outdoor art that will last for decades.
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