How to draw a bird:
A step-by-step guide for kids

Looking for a simple yet realistic way to teach your kid how to draw and paint a bird?

Then this step-by-step guide is perfect for YOU!

Inspired by one of our lessons in the Creativity School, this easy tutorial will not only teach you and your kids the basics of sketching our little feathered friends but also how to bring them to life with brilliant color.

So, bring out those papers and pencils, and let's start drawing one of the world's most vivid birds: The Kingfisher!

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What are Kingfishers?

Kingfishers are small to medium-sized brightly colored birds found across the world but mostly in the tropics like Africa, Asia, and Oceania. 

These birds are also of cultural significance because they symbolize peace, warmth, sunshine, prosperity, and love

They are also favorite subjects in different painting styles – oil, acrylic, watercolor, and many more!

This 2-part recipe will showcase an easy step-by-step guide on drawing a kingfisher and painting it using a famous art style!

Let's start!

Part 1: Drawing a Kingfisher

Materials needed:

1 Canvas Paper or any thick paper type
1 pencil of any type
1 eraser

Instructions:

On a blank canvas paper, draw two vertical ovals (head and body) overlapping each other.

The oval for the body (bottom) should be bigger than the head’s oval (top).

Afterward, draw a line on the left side connecting the two, extending past the body then curving around for the tail.

For the beak, draw two points on the upper right part of the head, then draw a straight line between the two points extending inward for about half an inch and outward for about two inches.

Draw lines from the two points toward the two ends of the first line.

To make the body more proportionate, draw a curve line from the end of the lower beak all the way to the tail, then partly erase the lines inside to make the body hollow.

Lastly, draw a small circle close to the center of the beak for the eye.

Note: Leave the top portion of the lower oval. This will serve as a reference when you draw the wing.

Draw a vertical rectangle below the body to appear as if the kingfisher is resting on a branch.

For the twig, draw a small diagonal rectangle on the right side of the branch, then erase the connecting lines inside the overlap.

To draw the wing, extend the curve inside the body down to the right, then back up while leaving spaces for the belly, lower body, and back.

Next, draw two horizontal curve lines inside the wing to divide it into three parts – big (top), medium (middle), and small (bottom).

In the middle and bottom part of the wing, draw diagonal lines to the left to make them look like individual feathers.

Note: The lines at the bottom part should be drawn alternately to the lines in the middle

From the beak inside the head, draw a small curve down to the wing, then zigzag towards the neck.

Next, draw a downward arc on the top left side of the wing.

Third, draw a zigzag from the top of the head to the eye.

Draw a small curve from the eye down to the arc.

Lastly, draw a narrow rectangle and oval from the lower body to the branch for the feet.

Voila! You've completed drawing the beautiful Kingfisher!

Do not forget to erase some of the extra pencil markings to make it cleaner and ready for painting!

If you found this inspiring and fun to draw, don’t forget to share it on our Creativity School Official Facebook Page!

Want more free art tutorials? Click here! 
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