7 Top Bird Taxidermy Pieces to Add to Your Collection
Whether you are a duck, pheasant, or turkey hunter, or simply a taxidermy enthusiast, adding a bird trophy to your North American or Eurasian taxidermy collection is a rewarding experience. From the impressive plumage of a courting male turkey to the graceful flight of a pheasant, bird taxidermy is an eye-catching choice for complementing mammals in your collection, or expanding your existing bird collection.
The details of the feathers and facial features require extreme attention to detail by an experienced taxidermists. At All-Taxidermy, our best bird taxidermy pieces are museum-ready in Trophy, Superior, or Excellent condition and will be represented by the Regal Wings Taxidermy badge. In this article, we discuss the best game birds to add to your taxidermy collection! Here are 7 of our top picks:
1. Pheasant
Pheasants are the perfect addition for Western American hunters, as well as those who collect Asian species. We’ll start off our discussion with the Ring-Necked pheasant, which is the official state bird of South Dakota, and easily one of the most recognized species of pheasant in the world. This magnificent bird is characterized by its distinctive white neck ring and brilliant red, gold, brown, and green coloration.
Other notable pheasant species include the Golden pheasant, native to China’s mountainous forests, which is marked by distinctive gold and red plumage; and the Lady Amherst pheasant, which is named after Lady Sarah Amherst, and stands out from the crowd thanks to its gorgeous blend of green, blue, white, yellow, and red feathers.
Pictured here: Ring Necked Pheasant SKU 3156
Another pheasant species choice to add to your taxidermy collection is the Melanistic Black pheasant, which offers deep, iridescent black feathers. The Reeves pheasant impresses taxidermy enthusiasts with tail feathers reaching up to 8 feet in length and striking white, black, gold, and red markings.
The Tragopan or “Horned Pheasant” features vivid blue facial coloring and beautiful plumage in bright red, blue, orange, and black. Lastly, the White pheasant, native to China, provides serene beauty with pure white feathers.
2. Duck
Duck taxidermy offers a rewarding hunting experience, gorgeous plumage, and doesn’t take up much space on your wall. Ideas for your duck specimens include posing them to be in mid-flight or perched on driftwood.
When many people think of a duck, the Mallard duck is likely what first comes to mind. Male ducks are characterized by their distinctive emerald green heads, white neck rings, and rich chestnut breasts. The Mallard duck is a must-have addition to any North American collection!
Another popular duck species choice for your collection is the Mandarin duck, which offers more exotic appeal thanks to its ornate orange “sail” feathers, intricate facial patterns, and vibrant coloring that makes it one of the world’s most beautiful duck species.
Pictured here: Mandarin Duck Taxidermy Mount SKU 2390
Wood ducks rival Mandarins in beauty, featuring iridescent green and purple head coloring with distinctive white markings and red eyes.
New Zealand Paradise ducks are a great taxidermy collection addition thanks to their distinctive black and white plumage patterns. The Northern Pintail duck is characterized by elegant, slender necks and striking chocolate-brown heads with white breast stripes.
Teal duck species, including Blue-winged and Green-winged varieties, are smaller specimens that each display unique wing patches and intricate feather patterns that highlight the taxidermist’s skill.
If you’re a beginner duck hunter, you might find our article on waterfowl taxidermy tips helpful. Here also are some duck taxidermy mount ideas for your collection.
3. Grouse
Grouse species provide game bird taxidermy collectors ground-dwelling birds with distinctive features and varied habitats across the North American continent. The largest species of grouse in North America is the Greater Sage grouse. This grouse displays elaborate courtship behaviors with their inflated air sacs and fanned tail feathers, making them a unique addition to your Great Plains taxidermy collection alongside the Bison, Pronghorn, and Coyote.
One of North America’s most popular game birds is the Ruffed grouse. This species is known for its elaborate neck ruffs and fan-shaped tails with distinctive dark bands. Their mottled brown and gray plumage provides excellent camouflage.
Pictured here: Sharptail Grouse Taxidermy Mount for Sale SKU 1927
Another grouse species we recommend considering for your game bird collection is the Sharp-tailed grouse, which has intricate barring patterns and distinctive pointed tail feathers that give the species its name.
The male Northern Black grouse, also known as Blackcock, features glossy blue-black plumage and distinctive lyre-shaped tails, while females show more subdued brown mottling. The Dusky Blue grouse, found in western mountain regions, showcase blue-gray coloring with bright orange combs during breeding season, making them striking display pieces.
Lastly, the Alaskan Spruce grouse will pair well with mammals from Alaska like the Moose and Grizzly bear. This grouse species is characterized by feathered feet adapted to help them survive harsh climates. The Spruce grouse will look great displayed on your wall thanks to its rich brown and black plumage and white spotting patterns.
4. Turkey
The Turkey is a favorite North American game bird, with several species to display proudly in your bird collection.
Turkey species around the globe include the Eastern, Merriam, Osceola, Ocellated, and Rio turkey, which can be displayed as a life-size pedestal mount demonstrating courtship behavior, wall mount with custom habitat, or even as a turkey beard or tail fan!
The wild turkey is North America’s largest ground-feeding game bird, with males significantly larger than females. Males are characterized by dynamic plumage, large fanned tails, and distinctive snoods hanging from their beaks.
Pictured here: Eastern Turkey SKU 2996
Two turkey species exist today: Meleagris gallopavo (Eastern and Central North American wild turkey) and Meleagris ocellata (ocellated turkey from Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula). These include subspecies like Eastern, Rio, Merriam, Osceola, and Ocellated turkeys.
Many hunters preserve the tail fan while using the rest for meat, creating beautiful displays of brown, black, and cream feathers. All-Taxidermy’s turkey tails can be mounted on plaques, combined with breasts and beards, or displayed as standalone pieces.
5. Partridge
Another popular game bird is the Partridge, which makes another excellent addition to your bird taxidermy collection. The partridge is characterized by intricate plumage patterns and ground-dwelling behavior.
The Grey partridge, also called the English partridge, features subtle gray and brown plumage with distinctive orange faces and intricate barring patterns. Native to Europe but successfully introduced to North America, these birds represent classic upland game hunting traditions.
A partridge species native to Asia that you should consider pairing with other Asiatic species is the Chinese Bamboo partridge. This partridge species displays vibrant coloring with rich chestnut and black markings.
Pictured here: Chinese Bamboo Partridge Taxidermy Mount SKU 1905
Lastly, Chukar partridges present striking appearance with bold black and white striped flanks, bright red beaks and legs, and distinctive black “necklace” markings across their throats. Their rocky habitat adaptations make them popular among Western hunters.
6. Quail
The Quail showcases distinctive plumage patterns and features that highlight the taxidermist’s attention to fine detail work. The most recognizable quail species is the Northern Bobwhite quail, which features rich brown and buff plumage with distinctive white throat patches on males and buff-colored throats on females. Their compact size and intricate feather patterns make them excellent specimens for detailed display work.
California quail present striking appearance with forward-curving black plumes and scaled underparts, representing the iconic western quail species. Gambel’s quail offer desert adaptations with similar plume features but distinctive chestnut and black belly patches that set them apart from California quail.
Pictured here: Pair of Gambel Quails Taxidermy Mount SKU 2335
Lastly, Mountain quail showcase the largest North American quail species with straight head plumes and subtle gray and brown coloring perfect for their high-altitude habitats.
7. Ptarmigan
Our final game bird we recommend adding to your taxidermy collection is the Ptarmigan. All ptarmigan species feature distinctive feathered feet that extend to their toes, providing natural snowshoes for harsh winter conditions.
Willow ptarmigan are the largest ptarmigan species, and they are characterized by significant seasonal plumage changes. In the summer, their feathers are a rich brown, but they change to white in the winter for camouflage.
Rock ptarmigan showcase similar seasonal changes but maintain black tail feathers year-round, creating striking contrast against winter white plumage.
Pictured here: Fall Alaskan Rock Ptarmigan Taxidermy Mount SKU 1459
White-tailed ptarmigan offer the smallest North American species with complete white tail feathers and the highest altitude habitat preferences among ptarmigan. Their compact size and intricate feather patterns make them excellent detailed specimens.
Why Choose All-Taxidermy?
Beyond the game bird species we listed in this article, we also invite you to check out our owl, peacock, chicken, pigeon, and swan species here. Selecting game bird taxidermy for your collection requires partnering with experienced professionals who understand the intricate demands of bird specimens.
At All-Taxidermy, our skilled taxidermists possess the careful eye for detail necessary to transform each bird into a true taxidermy masterpiece, preserving the natural beauty and character that makes these specimens treasured additions to any collection!
