Birdseye Maple is not technically a distinct species of Maple, but rather, it’s a figure that’s occasionally found in Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) trees. It’s named “birdseye” (sometimes simply written out as: Bird’s Eye Maple) because the figure resembles small bird’s eyes.
 Birdseye Maple |  Birdseye Maple (bookmatched veneer) |
 Birdseye Maple (23″ x 8.5″) |
The figure is reportedly caused by unfavorable growing conditions for the tree. The Sugar Maple 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. Birdseye Maple is frequently sold in veneer form, but solid lumber is available as well. Being tiny knots, the birdseye figure is most noticeable and pronounced on flatsawn pieces of lumber.
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Tree Species | Type/Figure |
Would this also be birdseye maple? It looks very similar except it has dark spots throughout, which I have not noticed in Birdseye maple.
That’s not birdseye maple. It looks more like a burl. If I had to guess, it looks most like mappa burl, which is technically the burl from black poplar. http://www.wood-database.com/black-poplar/
I acquired a large slab of maple, it has sharp knobby protrusions all around the bark side, it’s punky in the middle, rotting. I think it’s a Maple Burl wood, the grain is beautiful, maybe a tiger maple ?
Hi Kelly – that sounds to me like it might be Big Leaf Maple. It will have more reddish color than Hard Maple or Soft Maple, and a lot of character in the grain. Big Leaf Maple grows in the Pacific Northwest, unlike the other varieties, which are more commonly found in the Eastern US and Canada. Here’s a picture of a table I made with Big Leaf Maple.
I agree birdseye maple.
Hi, wondering if you can help me identify this wood? I’m thinking it’s birds eye maple, but I’m not 100% sure. The table is at least 65 years old. I recently inherited this table from my late grandmother, it had about 10 layers of paint/varnish on it. I used Circa1850 paint remover today and (after lots if elbow grease) this lovely grain was revealed!
I agree that birdseye maple is the most probable candidate.