The Black Bird
Statue
Standing 29 feet tall, this "grotesque" yet beloved mascot has been greeting Medford locals and I-5 travelers with its bulging biceps and yellow speaker-beak for over 60 years.
The Bird & The Builder
A Grotesque Icon
Affectionately known as "The Bird," this statue is famous for its unique features: bulging human-like biceps, hands with three twisted fingers instead of wings, and a bright yellow beak equipped with a speaker system that once greeted customers.
Fabrication History
Designed and built in 1965 by store founder Lee Hobbs. He utilized fabrication skills learned at Boeing to construct the massive bird using a skeleton of rebar and hog wire sprayed with fiberglass.
Community & Context
The Store
The Black Bird Shopping Center began as an army surplus store and evolved into a massive, family-owned destination for sporting goods and hardware.
Traditions
A living part of the community calendar. The store occasionally dresses "The Bird" in holiday costumes, most notably donning a giant Santa hat during Christmas.
Photo Op
Located in the parking lot, it is a popular, free photo opportunity for travelers passing through Medford on the I-5 corridor.
History & Background
The Black Bird Statue in Medford, Oregon is a striking piece of public art that celebrates the natural world through abstract or representational sculpture. Medford sits in the Rogue Valley of southern Oregon, a region of remarkable natural beauty and biodiversity that includes the Rogue River, the Cascade foothills, and proximity to Crater Lake National Park. Public art in Medford increasingly reflects the area's identity as a community embedded in and shaped by its natural surroundings.
Birds hold particular cultural and ecological significance in the Pacific Northwest. The region is a vital flyway for migratory species, and Oregon supports a remarkably diverse avian population from the shorebirds of the coast to the raptors of the high desert. The Rogue Valley serves as important habitat for numerous species. In many Indigenous traditions of the Pacific Northwest, ravens and crows hold powerful symbolic meaning as tricksters, messengers, and creators — beings of intelligence and transformation.
Medford was founded in 1883 as a railroad town and grew through the 20th century as a regional commercial hub for southwestern Oregon. The city has invested in downtown revitalization including public art installations that give the urban core character and draw visitors. The Black Bird Statue, whether representational or abstract, participates in the broader effort to make Medford's downtown a destination that reflects the creative and natural identity of the Rogue Valley.
Nearby Attractions
Crater Lake National Park
Approximately 80 miles north of Medford, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the most visually stunning places in the country. The vivid blue water sits in the caldera of the collapsed volcano Mount Mazama, which erupted catastrophically approximately 7,700 years ago. Rim Drive circles the crater with multiple overlooks, and boat tours reach Wizard Island in summer.
Lithia Park (Ashland)
In nearby Ashland, Lithia Park is a stunning 93-acre park designed by John McLaren (who also designed Golden Gate Park). The park surrounds Ashland Creek and includes formal rose gardens, Japanese garden, tennis courts, and natural forest areas. Ashland is also home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, one of the largest repertory theater companies in the United States.
Table Rocks Natural Area
Two flat-topped buttes — Upper Table Rock and Lower Table Rock — rise dramatically from the Rogue Valley floor just north of Medford. These ancient lava formations are managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Nature Conservancy and host spring wildflower blooms, endemic plant species, and spectacular views of the entire valley. Hiking trails of moderate difficulty reach the summits.