Metal Bird - Tūī, Regular

The lawyers of the bird world, Tūīs distinctive black robe and white chest ruff is accompanied by its unusual vocal abilities – bell song, clicks, cackles, creaks and groans, and wheezing calls come from their two voice boxes. The calls are unique to each bird, and many cannot be heard by human ears.

Your Tui Metalbird is made from 3mm Corten® steel, which is designed to rust beautifully. Size at 260mm high.

Metal Bird

Metalbird is the brainchild of Phil Walters, an industrial designer and lover of street art and New Zealand’s native flora and fauna.

His handcrafted artworks bring together his passions: the tough, 3mm Corten® steel and stencil design, a nod to his urban art roots. The birds are inspired by the mysterious, satirical street artist Banksy – the stencils look as if street art has turned 3D.

Metalbird started as a guerrilla street art project. All over New Zealand’s North Island, more than 40 life-sized, Metalbird stencils appeared. In parks, in fences and on power poles – anywhere you’d least expect. And people loved them.

"Our designs represent some of New Zealand’s most precious birdlife. Art isn’t just something you see on a gallery wall – it can be the way the light shines through a coloured window or the splash of spray-paint on a city overpass. Art can be something you see, hear, taste or touch. But most of all, it’s something you experience – bringing with it memories and emotions"