Who Makes Metalbirds (And Where)Updated 9 days ago

Where are Metalbirds made?
Locally. That means in each country we sell, we make our birds close to home. In New Zealand, they’re cut and crafted in Penrose, Auckland.

We partner with small family-owned factories that know their stuff and care about quality. It’s better for the planet, and better for your backyard.

Who designs the birds?
Phil. Founder, designer, steel obsessive. He started Metalbird in a shed and still sketches every new bird by hand. It’s less about technical drawings and more about attitude — the way a kingfisher leans, or a fantail flits. It’s art you can tap into a tree.

First Price vs Seconds

At Metalbird, we reckon every bird deserves its day — even the ones with a few dings.

Seconds are birds with minor cosmetic flaws — a scratch, dent, or a quirky cut. Nothing structural. Just a bit of character. They’re made from the same solid Corten® steel and weather just as beautifully.

Why we do it:

• Less waste – good steel shouldn’t hit the bin.

• More accessible – quality birds, lower price.

• More honest – they’re not perfect, but they’re still bloody good.

The fine print:

• Final sale — no returns or exchanges.

• No extra discounts — they’re already marked down.

• Limited numbers — once they’re gone, that’s it.

If you like a bird with a bit of a backstory, a Second might be the one. Thanks for backing the underbird.

Do you do custom birds?

We get asked this a lot — and we totally get it.

At the moment, we don’t offer one-off custom designs. Every Metalbird goes through a full design, testing, and production process — it’s not just a quick sketch and a cut. We put a lot of care into each silhouette to make sure it feels just right, and that kind of detail doesn’t scale well for one-offs.

That said, we’re always listening. Some of our best-selling birds started as customer requests, so if there’s one you’re dying to see in flight — let us know. It might just end up joining the flock.