Bird's Eye Maple Wood

Bird’s Eye Maple is a highly sought-after hardwood known for its distinctive figure of small, swirling “eyes” that create a unique and decorative pattern. With its light color and smooth grain, it machines well and is commonly used for fine furniture, turning, and specialty woodworking projects where visual impact is key.
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Lumber

4/4 Bird's Eye Maple Lumber

4/4 Bird's Eye Maple Lumber

From $17.50
$17.50
4/4 Roasted Bird's Eye Maple Lumber

4/4 Roasted Bird's Eye Maple Lumber

From $20.95
$20.95

S4S Lumber

Bird's Eye Maple Lumber Pack

4/4 Bird's Eye Maple Lumber Pack

$156.50
$156.50

Mix Packs

S4S Bird's Eye Maple Lumber
Online / Pre-Order

S4S Bird's Eye Maple Lumber

From $22.50
$22.50
S4S Roasted Bird's Eye Maple Lumber
Online / Pre-Order

S4S Roasted Bird's Eye Maple Lumber

From $25.95
$25.95

Thins

O Canada Rough Cut Lumber Mix Pack

4/4 O Canada! Lumber Mix Pack

Maple x 4
From $48.95
$48.95

Turning Blanks

S4S O Canada! Lumber Mix Pack
Online / Pre-Order

S4S O Canada! Lumber Mix Pack

Maple x 4
From $63.95
$63.95

Tonewood

Bird's Eye Maple Thin

Bird's Eye Maple Thin

From $8.95
Roasted Bird's Eye Maple Turning Square

Roasted Bird's Eye Maple Turning Square

$9.95
Maple Guitar Neck - Instrument Grade

Maple Guitar Neck - Instrument Grade

$54.95
Maple Guitar Neck - Master Grade

Maple Guitar Neck - Master Grade

$99.95
Roasted Maple Guitar Neck - Instrument Grade

Roasted Maple Guitar Neck - Instrument Grade

$59.95
Roasted Maple Guitar Neck - Master Grade

Roasted Maple Guitar Neck - Master Grade

$99.95
Maple Bass Neck - Master Grade

Maple Bass Neck - Master Grade

$109.95
Roasted Maple Bass Neck

Roasted Maple Bass Neck - Instrument Grade

$69.95
Roasted Maple Bass Neck - Master Grade

Roasted Maple Bass Neck - Master Grade

$110.95
XL Roasted Maple Bass Neck - Master Grade

XL Roasted Maple Bass Neck - Master Grade

$139.95

Veneer

Roasted Maple Guitar Fingerboard

Roasted Maple Guitar Fingerboard

$24.95
Roasted Maple Bass Fingerboard

Roasted Maple Bass Fingerboard

$29.95
Bird's Eye Maple Veneer Pack

Bird's Eye Maple Veneer Pack

$29.95
Bird's Eye Maple Veneer

Bird's Eye Maple Veneer - Thick (1/16")

$34.95

Bird's Eye Maple

Pricing

Good Value

Hardness

1450

Janka

Distribution

Northeastern North America

Availability

Readily Available

Appearance

As the name suggests, Bird's Eye Maple wood has varying numbers of tiny knots that are considered a growth anomaly. Other than the unique figure, the wood colour is identical to that of Hard Maple. It presents a beautiful amount of chatoyance that makes the surface dance when finished.

Workability

Like Hard Maple, Bird's Eye maple can be prone to tearout with dull tools. The figure only adds to the difficulty. A sharp plane, scraper or sanding are the best ways to surface this wood.

Uses

The majority of this figure will be found in veneer form and is prized by fine furniture and cabinet makers alike.

Additional Comments

Bird’s Eye Maple is not a distinct species of maple lumber; considered a growth/grain anomaly. Although rare exceptions exist, Bird’s Eye Maple is almost exclusively harvested from Acer saccharum. The figure is reportedly caused by unfavourable growing conditions for the tree. The tree attempts to start numerous new buds to get more sunlight, but with poor growing conditions the new shoots are aborted, and afterward a number of tiny knots remain.

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Why choose Bird's Eye Maple Wood?

Bird's Eye Maple is one of the most distinctive and sought after figures you will find in any wood. It gets its name from the small, swirling circular patterns scattered across the surface that look remarkably like tiny bird's eyes looking back at you, and no one has ever been able to fully explain why they form. The leading theory is that the tree experiences stress during growth that causes the grain to dimple and swirl, but whatever the cause the result is a surface that is unlike anything else. It has the same hard, dense properties as regular maple but with a figure that makes it a natural choice for high end furniture, guitar tops, jewelry boxes, and decorative veneers where you want something that immediately catches the eye. Like Curly Maple it has that light catching quality that shifts as you move around it, making every piece feel alive. Bird's Eye Maple is not the easiest wood to find in large quantities which makes it more valuable, and when you do find a good board you hold onto it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bird's Eye Maple Wood