| Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus |
| Did you know? The word "pileated" derives from the Latin "pileus", a conical felt hat or cap. Before and after the turn of the century, this Species was a frequent victim of hunters who were after taxidermy trophies. They were known as "woodcock" in those days. The Pileated Woodpecker is a couple of inches shorter than the presumably extinct Ivory Woodpecker. It's toes are "zygodactylic", two toes are orientated towards the front and two towards the back, an adaptation for their tree climbing way of life. |
| The finished Pileated Woodpecker pair carving. Private Collection Purcellville, VA |
| For comments about this website E-mail jose@birdofwood.com or birdofwood@yahoo.com |
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| Chickadee perching on one leg mounted on a dry piece on Pine wood. Base is made out of a very dry round of locust. About 10" high by 6" wide. Private Owner Lancaster, PA. |
| Chickadee pair on a contorted piece of yellow pine. Made out of yellow Pine, both in a "relaxed" pose. Legs are cast metal and eyes are glass. Measures 10" high by 11" at the widest side. Private Owner East Chicago, IN |
| The Pileated woodpecker is likely the last of the largest North American Woodpecker species. A flamboyant and beautiful tree drummer who's presence in a mature forest can't be missed or mistaken. I strongly believe that the alleged Ivory Billed woodpecker sightings in the southern wetlands are actually Pileated mis identification. |
Northern Cardinal
(Cardinalis cardinalis)
A pair of life size Cardinals, the male resting but attentive and the female napping. I used a real branch,
trimmed and steamed it to force a shape. The late season cherry berries have a dehydrated look. They are
made out of walnut each one shaped and set on wire. The base is a large block of darkened pine necessary
to support the off center perched male. Cardinal are carved out of very dry white pine with inserted glass
eyes and cast metal legs. Leaves are crafted from copper sheet and formed and painted to look as if frost
damaged. A delicate looking, yet rugged and simple folk art piece. The birds and base are made out of white
pine, the branch is steamed natural rhododendron.
Private Collection
Purcellville, VA
(Cardinalis cardinalis)
A pair of life size Cardinals, the male resting but attentive and the female napping. I used a real branch,
trimmed and steamed it to force a shape. The late season cherry berries have a dehydrated look. They are
made out of walnut each one shaped and set on wire. The base is a large block of darkened pine necessary
to support the off center perched male. Cardinal are carved out of very dry white pine with inserted glass
eyes and cast metal legs. Leaves are crafted from copper sheet and formed and painted to look as if frost
damaged. A delicate looking, yet rugged and simple folk art piece. The birds and base are made out of white
pine, the branch is steamed natural rhododendron.
Private Collection
Purcellville, VA
October 18, 2006
Just one more Chickadee for those who are asking me to make
a few more. Made out of an old piece of Chestnut and perched
on a very interesting dry root from a rocky creek bank. The
base is hand formed from Chestnut wood. At 4-1/2 inches It is a
full size Chickadee. The overall hight is about 8-1/2 inches tall
by 7 inches wide. Signed and numbered #8. I added a
handmade generic small butterfly made out of soldered copper
foil.
Personal Collection
Green Bank,W.V.
Just one more Chickadee for those who are asking me to make
a few more. Made out of an old piece of Chestnut and perched
on a very interesting dry root from a rocky creek bank. The
base is hand formed from Chestnut wood. At 4-1/2 inches It is a
full size Chickadee. The overall hight is about 8-1/2 inches tall
by 7 inches wide. Signed and numbered #8. I added a
handmade generic small butterfly made out of soldered copper
foil.
Personal Collection
Green Bank,W.V.
| Carolina Wren finished setting (below) includes a nice pine drawer box designed and made by me, in which the uppermost drawer conceals the bird's nest with two eggs, gaining access through a loose knot. Below photos show a view of the box's top carving. Monterey, Virginia |
| 11/03/2006 House Wren. A charmingly obnoxious singer and home garden owner. Private Green Bank, WV |
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