How to Draw a Bee-Eater

Step 1: Big round head

Near the top, just right of the middle, draw a big round head, a little wider than tall.

Tip Leave room on the left for the long bill, and underneath for the body.

Step 2: Long curved bill

Start on the front of the head. Draw a long thin bill curving gently down to a point, then back.

Step 3: Eye and mask

Draw a big eye with a dot. Add a stripe from the bill through the eye, ending in a point.

Tip Let the stripe end in a point on the back of the head.

Step 4: Egg body

Start low on the back of the head. Draw an egg body hanging down, and stop under the bill.

Tip The body is narrower than the head, so the head stays big.

Step 5: Folded wing

Start under the head. Draw a fat U wing down and back. Stop on the back line.

Tip Add 2 short feather lines inside the wing.

Step 6: Thin collar

Under the chin, draw a curve across the chest, from the front edge to the wing, for a collar.

Step 7: Tail and streamer

Start under the wing. Draw a long narrow tail down to a thin streamer point, then back to the tummy.

Step 8: Legs and toes

Under the tummy, draw 2 short thin legs, each with 2 small toes forward and 1 back.

Tip Keep the legs tiny, so the tummy sits low.

Step 9: Slim twig

From the left edge, draw a slim twig behind the toes. End it in a round tip before the tail.

Step 10: Yellow throat, turquoise tummy

Colour the throat under the stripe yellow. Colour the tummy under the collar turquoise.

Step 11: Green wing, grey legs

Colour the wing and the long tail green, and the legs and toes grey.

Step 12: Orange crown, brown twig

Colour the top of the head orange. Colour the twig brown, around the toes.

Step 13: Black bill and mask

Colour the bill, the stripe and the collar black, around the eye. Leave the eye white.