About

Meet The Bird

The Black Bird Store in Medford, OR, was founded as an army surplus store in 1965 by Lee Hobbs. The giant black bird in front of the store was fashioned after a 10-foot magpie at Yard Birds, a store in Centralia, WA, owned by a friend of Lee’s.

Our 29-foot black bird was designed and built by Lee himself and was constructed of re-bar, hog wire, and fiberglass. The bird can be seen sporting a tank top and shorts for Medford’s Pear Blossom Run, and a Santa hat and candy cane for Christmas. For other occasions, we outfit the bird with other suitable props.

The store is locally owned and operated and has become southern Oregon’s largest family-owned sporting goods store. Some of our staff have been with the store for more than 40 years.

“The Bird,” as it is affectionately called, has always been known as a men’s toy store, with hunting, fishing, and camping being its strong points. With large automotive and hardware departments and one of southern Oregon’s largest selections of hiking, hunting, and work boots and clothing. Men and women alike have no need to shop anywhere else!

We also offer a growing housewares department, which carries a large selection of canning and food-preservation items, cheese-making supplies, and kitchen gadgets. Our Lodge Cookware selection has always been one of the Valley’s largest.

We opened our wine and brew-making section even before it was the thing to do. It has grown rapidly with the growing demand to brew your own wine and beer. Our knowledgeable staff can help get you started!

In the summer we offer SUP rentals, or we can help outfit you for a float down the river.

The Bird also offers a full-service ski shop in the winter, bringing you the area’s only ski and snowboard rentals—outside of Mt. Ashland. In the summer, our raft shop will outfit you for a float down the river.