Hello
I just started skinning birds of various sizes for an independent study at my college. I have never skinned a bird before and I'm just wondering about any techniques for doing the skull. Do you have to pull the skin over the skull to clean it out or is there an easier way? I tried my first bird skin today, a Hairy Woodpecker, and I had a heck of a time getting the skin around the skull. I ended up with feathers and holes everywhere. Also, if you don't have to pull the skin over the skull, how do you get the eyes out of the skull? Any input would be GREATLY appreciated. Nicole
Return to Bird Taxidermy Category Menu
Since you are not doing Competion Taxidermy, you could cut under the jaw to the neck ~1.5" amd pull the head out (after cutting the spinal column. CONSULT someone for Avian Anatomy in the Zoology Dept.
Nicole , use a razor blade and make a 1" cut of the back of the skull and then skin out the skull . You can then remove the eyes and brains etc . Be careful removing the eyes as they sometimes will squirt you in the face if you break them . rick
The first bird I skinned, was a chukar...I have to say, I didn't get any holes in it..but it took me 6 hours to do it!
Nicole, when your done cringing from the previous post, which, by the way, is very good advice :)~~ find some time and get a book or manual on bird taxidermy or simply try the orange search button to the left..very helpful tips out there to be found...good luck
close by? Preparing specimens for study is a very common practice in zoology departments - if you have a museum close by with a natural history section, the curator would be very helpful for you. There are also many text books on the process. I would also think your supervising instructor would be able to help you. Not all birds require cutting the skin to invert the skull. If they do, my preference is to make an incision on top of the skull. Good luck.