Black Bird – Curved Breast

The Curved Breast Blackbird Sculpture is a hand-carved wooden bird made from Tasmanian blackwood. Its form takes inspiration from mid-century modern design, including the well-known Eames blackbird, and has been shaped to capture a clean, simple silhouette.

A gentle curved breast detail gives the sculpture a sense of character, while the smooth lines and pared-back form keep the design minimal and versatile. The natural grain and warm tones of the blackwood mean that each piece is slightly different, with its own markings and colour variations.

This sculpture sits comfortably in a variety of spaces—on a shelf, sideboard, or desk—and works well alongside other styles of decor. The design is intended to be unobtrusive yet distinctive, offering a quiet focal point rather than a statement piece that demands attention.

Made in New Zealand from sustainably sourced timber, the Curved Breast Blackbird reflects Bearwood Workshop’s approach of using quality materials and simple forms to create lasting objects. The Danish oil finish protects the surface while allowing the natural qualities of the wood to show through.

Dimensions – Height: 300mm; Width: 60mm; Length: 190mm

Description of bird – 

The Eurasian blackbird was introduced to New Zealand, and is now our most widely distributed bird species. Adult males are entirely black apart from their yellow bill and eye-ring. Females and juveniles are mostly dark brown, slightly mottled on the belly. Blackbirds are common in a wide range of habitats including suburban gardens, farmland, woodlands and indigenous forests. Their song is given from winter to summer, with the singing male usually perched on a high branch, tree top or power line. They sing most in the early morning and evening. Blackbirds feed mostly on the ground on earthworms, snails, and insects. They also take berries while perched in foliage.

Identification

The blackbird is larger than a song thrush and is further distinguished from it by having darker, more uniform plumage, which is entirely black in adult males. Males also have a yellow bill and a yellow eye-ring around their dark eye. Adult females are mostly dark brown on their upperparts, light brown or grey on the throat, and dark brown with slight mottling on the breast and belly; their bill is light brown. Juveniles are similar to adult females, but with light mottling over the body.

Voice: the loud male territorial advertising song is mainly given from July to January. The song is similar to that of the song thrush, but without the repeated phrases that characterise thrush song. Other calls are given throughout the year, including a sharp quickly repeated alarm call made if a predator threatens.

Similar species: female and juvenile blackbirds may be confused with song thrush, but thrushes are smaller and slimmer, with creamy-white underparts (speckled with brown) from chin to undertail.

More information here – https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/eurasian-blackbird