wildfowl

Stunning Shorebirds!

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Dear Wildfowl Carver, Shorebirds are a great choice for carving. They come in such a variety of sizes and shapes, all with their own distinctive features. In our new Collection, Stunning Shorebirds from We Like Wildfowl Carving, dig into some solid reference work to prepare you for your next shorebird carving project. The Royal Tern is a ... Read More

Bring the Color, Character, and Beauty of Songbirds to Your Carving Bench Now!

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Dear Wildfowl Carver, There's something irresistible about songbirds. From the dazzling flash of a hummingbird's iridescent color to the bold personality of a woodpecker, these remarkable birds offer endless inspiration for wildlife artists and bird carvers alike. And now, you can bring some of nature's most colorful characters to your carving bench with the Spectacular Songbirds Collection. Discover a ... Read More

It’s Always Duck Season!

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Dear Wildfowl Carver, Decoys are more than hunting tools; they're works of art in their own right. In our new Collection, Diving Into Ducks from We Like Wildfowl Carving, we're going to take a deep dive into creating some stunning ducks, both decoy and decorative. Cinnamon teal drakes are brightly colored little birds. Ranging from a cinnamon ... Read More

Western Bluebird Pattern

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From the Fall 2026 issue

The Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) measures between 5 ½ and 7 inches in length, and differs from the Eastern bluebird in that the Western male has a blue throat and chestnut upper back and scapulars (although the color is sometimes absent from the scapulars). The breast is browner than those of other bluebirds. Although the ... Read More

Creative Fall Carving!

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Dear bird carver, Welcome to the premier magazine and online community dedicated to bird carvers. The Fall issue of We Like Wildfowl Carving brings you top-notch tutorials and informative articles to inspire and improve your bird carving and painting — wherever you are on your bird carving journey. Bluebirds & Butter Butts The bluebird of happiness comes in ... Read More

The New Jersey Carving Bench

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From the Summer 2026 issue

Construct your own bench using this simple historical design. The Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild holds an annual summer workshop at which participants carve traditional decoys under the tutelage of master carver and historian Jamie “J.P.” Hand. About four years ago, Jamie supplied several basic carving benches for those who hadn’t brought their own. Those benches ... Read More

The Goshawk, Ghost of the Forest Part One

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From the Summer 2026 issue

American Goshawk
The American goshawk (Astur atricapillus) is one of the three “true” hawks native to North America. Originally considered part of the Accipiter genus, the American goshawk was assigned its own species in 2023 based on differences in morphology, vocalizations, and genetics. (The Eurasian goshawk is still designated as Accipiter gentilis.) They are magnificent hunters, stealthy ... Read More

Carve the Famous, Funny Phalarope!

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A Wilson’s phalarope at Big Stone Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota
Dear Wildfowl Carver, When I was a kid, we used to go to my friend’s house and swim around and around their circular above-ground pool until we created a whirlpool that threatened to suck us down to the bottom of the (very shallow) pool. It was a great way to spend a hot summer afternoon. The phalarope ... Read More

Preview the Wood Duck Hen Pattern!

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Dear Wildfowl Carver, Raise your hand if you’ve carved a wood duck drake. Fair enough; the wood duck drake is a popular subject, and often the feature of a wildfowl carving class. The wood duck makes for a great anatomy lesson and gives carvers great practice in both carving and painting. If you’ve already carved and painted ... Read More