Birds have a long and colorful history as a decorative motif - from cave paintings and ancient hieroglyphs, to medieval tapestries and ornate Victorian wallpapers. These beautiful animals have graced homes with their elegance for many centuries, and will always have their own special place in the world of interior design. We've collected 40 of the most interesting bird figures from all over the world and in every shape and size – ranging from simple decorative ornaments to useful homeware and beyond. If you're looking for a gift for the ornithologist or figurine collector in your life, this guide is for you!
Owls are symbols of wisdom, beauty, protection, insight, and mystery, yet these elegant birds mean something different to everybody who loves them. These fuzzy little owls have lifelike appeal and a big personality. Each owl is 4" high and ideal for decorating year round.
Sweet, soft, and detailed – this hanging owl would fit right into any
Harry Potter themed home decor
!
These miniature birds pack an incredible amount of detail into a petit and versatile form. At four inches long and one inch tall, these birds are ideal for use in crafts like wreaths and dried flower arrangements.
Do you have a friend who just can't stop talking about Twitter, or suspect you might be "that friend" yourself? Introducing Ollie, Twitter's loveable mascot brought to life as a super-cute collectable. Ollie stands 4-inches tall and arrives in a windowed box ready for display.
Murano glass collectors and birdwatchers alike are sure to love these colorful little gems. Handmade in Italy and encompassing an incredible range of colors, these lovely chickadees would brighten any space. Just look at those curious happy faces!
This hand made glass hummingbird figurine would add beauty to any mantle, desk or window sill you place it on.
Elegant and functional – these porcelain spice holders feature powerful magnets that allow them to adhere to the curved metal rack as if defying gravity.
These sculptural bird-inspired salt and pepper shakers were designed by the team at Jonathan Adler as part of the Menagerie Collection, a diverse range of wildlife figures pared down to their most basic forms. The beautiful box makes this collection perfect for gifting.
Hold your everyday spices with this gorgeous pair of porcelain lovebirds, or pass them on to a friend who would adore these pieces of tabletop art. These salt and pepper shakers arrive in a lovely gift box ready to make the day of anyone who receives them.
Way too cute! This ceramic tea set includes an owl teapot and two teacups. These silly faces are sure to draw compliments anywhere they go. If you are interested in cool looking teapots like this, do check out our post:
40 Unique Teapots to Help You Savour The Taste Of Tea
.
This sparrow-themed salad bowl set is extremely sweet and useful, a great way to brighten the table with a pop of color and personality. The charming serving utensils sit perched conveniently on the edge of the bowl, organized and out of the way.
An amazing piece of functional wall art from Haoshi Design - this engaging set include a clock with two sparrows sitting inside, plus four extraordinarily detailed birds to serve as functional accessories.
Another unique clock by Haoshi Design , company dedicated to bringing joyfulness and satisfaction to those with hectic lives. This set features swallows rather than sparrows, but still comes with the same type of easy-to-use template for an attractive installation.
Alarm clocks… they're useful, but they're forever associated with early mornings, and very few people enjoy early mornings. This lovely alarm clock looks nothing like the traditional timepiece and instead opts for a more clever and cheerful format. The bed-facing side is perfectly pristine, and the other side shows a simple digital display suitable for programming the time and alarm.
Fine porcelain carefully sculpted into the shape of origami swans. The tops lift away to reveal a handy hiding spot for jewelry, office supplies, or other small objects. The large swan measures at 7 inches tall, and the smaller swan stands at 6 inches in height.
A multifunctional tool for bird lovers and fine drink connoisseurs alike – includes a sommaliers knife, corkscrew, and bottle opener. The Kikkerland bird corkscrew is made of stainless steel with a classic oak handle.
What could be a more charming way to serve a drink than by popping it open with this cute green bird bottle opener? This whimsical little fella is made of polished aluminum and has an eye-catching tropical green hue. Love to see more bottle openers? Do check out our post on
unique bottle openers
then!
Designed by Alan Wisniewski, this adorable trio of
wall hooks
is a great way to add a little playfulness to your entryway or bedroom. A small magnet beneath the beak holds keys, and the mouth has a slight gap to hold notes!
Sparrow Clips are bright, colorful, and ready to organize your hanging items. Neighbors are sure to envy these clips on laundry day, and DIYers won't be able to stop dreaming up cool ways to use them.
Do you often have trouble finding your keys before heading out the door in the morning? This cheerful sparrow keychain and birdhouse combination is too cute to pass up, making it easier to remember to put those keys where they belong upon returning home. Bonus: the sparrow doubles as a safety whistle!
This sweet mamma sparrow wants to help you keep your notes and reminders organized with style, perched on a metal platform to hold the magnetic eggs in place until you're ready to use them.
The Sleepy Hollow Pencil Cup takes the form of chic little owl in matte white, subtle and charming as can be.
In today's tech-centric workplaces and schools, USB storage drives are almost as ubiquitous as keys and wallets. Why not enjoy them? These colorful owl memory sticks add personality to an otherwise utilitarian device.
Owls rule the night – but this owl wants to help brighten your evenings. Made from cast iron and sized to hold a single tea candle, this hanging lantern is perfect for the home and garden alike.
A fun night light even adults can love: dimmable, rechargeable, touch-activated, and undeniably delightful. Lift the lid to free this little glowing bird from its cage to take it with you wherever you go, ideal for those late night trips to the bathroom. Very innovative!
Designed by Pier Paolo Pitacco, this beautiful bird lamp is composed of gossamer fabric stretched over a structural steel frame. Each lamp comes with two covers - one with a stylish pattern, and the other in clean minimalistic white. Even the LED colors are customizable and easy to change.
Originally designed in 1959 by Danish industrial designer Kristian Vedel, these elegant wooden birds embody the modern sensibilities of iconic mid-century aesthetics.
Paul Anker Hansen's famous 1960s wooden owl is another iconic design from Denmark. Each owl figure features a strong magnet embedded in the head and body for easy posing.
A delightful family of ducks, originally designed by Hans Bølling in 1959 – an essential piece for collectors of bird figurines or mid-century Danish sculptures.
Norway's talented Lars Beller Fjetland drew inspiration from his interest in nature and sustainability to create the Turned collection, made from solid pieces of leftover mahogany formed into playful round birds with huge personality.
Songbird Alfred is a stylish wooden bird figurine by Kay Bojesen, part of a wider collection of decoration inspired by wildlife. Alfred is the wooden design on the left and the blue bird on the right is named Kay after the designer.
Another famous mid-century design by Kay Bojesen – a true "must have" for any serious Bojesen figurine collector.
Carved from a solid piece of lime wood, the Howdy Owl is an unforgettable sculpture sure to please selective purveyors of Nordic design. The powerfully stoic expression cuts deep shadows across the surface.
Perhaps the most famous bird figurine in recent history – the iconic House Bird by Charles and Ray Eames was part of their own personal collection, and made reoccurring appearances in photographs taken by the couple.
L'Oiseau is a minimalist sculpture by the brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. This piece offers a striking profile, its shape brought to life by the absence or ornamentation. Its raw beauty comes from pure form and material rather than ornamentation.
Designed by renowned Finnish artist Oiva Toikka, these colorful mouth-blown glass birds have been a cherished part of the contemporary decor landscape for more than 40 years – and throughout his career, Toikka has managed to create more than 400 of these gems for passionate collectors to pursue.
The unparalleled beauty of Swarovski crystal says it all. This spectacular swan stands at 2 1/2" tall and would make a touching gift for anyone with an eye for such precision and beauty.
The medium Swarovski swan stands at two inches tall, and features an exciting gem cut for a dramatic play on light.
Swans are famous for their great level of dedication to their mates – once a swan chooses a partner, they tend to stay together for life. The Soulmate Collection is a celebration of the power and integrity of this love.
Such a lively Swarovski collection! Each set comes with a mother duck and three ducklings, the perfect gift to acknowledge a parent's continual guidance throughout life.
