Entry No. 43 — the Missoula file — filed under: oddities
Flock Taxidermy
Run by artist Kimberly Spence, who learned the craft from a taxidermist on staff at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Flock specializes in museum-quality avian taxidermy. Every bird she preserves comes from a death unrelated to the art, and her pieces have appeared in design houses and films. It is a working studio rather than a shop, so seeing or buying work in person means reaching out directly.
The story
You won't stumble into Flock Taxidermy off a downtown Missoula sidewalk. Artist Kimberly Spence learned her craft under a staff taxidermist at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, bringing museum-grade preservation techniques to an art form usually associated with trophy heads and hunting lodges. Her focus is strictly avian, turning exotic and domestic birds into sculptural studies that look poised to catch a draft.
What sets the studio apart is its strict ethical baseline: every bird Spence preserves died of natural causes, illness, or accidents completely unrelated to her work. That provenance gives her pieces a quiet, respectful vitality—one that has caught the eye of film prop masters and interior design houses. Operating quietly out of Missoula, she keeps the operation deliberately small, precise, and off the main drag.
What it's like
Do not hunt for a storefront window or a open door on the street. Flock operates as a private working studio rather than a retail shop, meaning your visit happens strictly by appointment or pickup arrangement. You'll browse her current work online or negotiate a commission via email, making any eventual local handoff feel less like shopping and more like picking up a secret package.
The move: Browse her current avian specimens online together, then email to arrange a studio pickup or commission, turning a quiet curiosity into a one-of-a-kind shared keepsake.
📍 Before you go No public walk-in storefront; primarily online and by arrangement. Contact info@flocktaxidermy.com or (323) 580-3240 before assuming you can visit in person.
- 📍 Missoula
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Missoula, MT (studio; no public storefront)
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum — Pair Spence's fine-art avian mounts with a look at the University of Montana's massive 22,000-specimen scientific collection.
- Montana Antique Mall — If you want to hunt for tangible oddities in person, dig through four floors of vintage curios in downtown's oldest building.
- Meadowsweet Herbs — Continue the focus on natural craft with a stop at this veteran Hip Strip apothecary compounding botanical remedies since 1996.
Good to know
Can I walk in and browse the studio?
No. Flock Taxidermy does not have a public storefront or open walk-in hours. You must contact the studio ahead of time to arrange a pickup or commission.
Where do the birds come from?
Every specimen comes from natural, accidental, or non-hunting deaths unrelated to Spence's taxidermy work.
How can I purchase or commission a piece?
Browse available mounts on her website or Etsy store, or contact info@flocktaxidermy.com / (323) 580-3240 directly to discuss custom work.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · artsmissoula.org · Instagram · bbb.org · etsy.com
last checked: 2026-06-24