How to Draw a Black Skimmer

Step 1: The head

Near the top of your paper draw a big round head, a little wider than tall.

Tip Leave lots of room on the left for a very long beak.

Step 2: Long beak

From the head's front draw a long, deep beak. Make its bottom half poke out further than its top.

Tip No other bird has a beak like this: the bottom is longer.

Step 3: Beak lines

Draw a mouth line from the top half's tip back to the head. Then a line across the beak's middle.

Step 4: Big eye

Draw a big round eye in the middle of the head, with a black pupil and a white shine.

Tip Leave a strip of cheek between the beak and the eye.

Step 5: Cap line

Start on the forehead above the beak. Draw a line over the eye to the back of the head.

Tip Everything above this line will be the black cap.

Step 6: Plump body

Start at the back of the head. Draw down, round a fat tummy, and up to stop under the beak.

Tip The body is a plump egg under the head, narrower than the head.

Step 7: Long wing

Start under the head's back. Draw a round shoulder, sweep out to a long point, then back to the body.

Step 8: Short tail

Start under the wing. Draw a short pointed tail out behind, then come back to the tummy.

Tip The wing tip reaches out past the tail.

Step 9: Front leg and foot

Start on the tummy. Draw a thin leg down to a flat foot pointing forward, then back up.

Step 10: Back leg and foot

A thumb behind it, start on the tummy again. Draw a second leg and paddle foot the same way.

Tip Its toes tuck behind the front foot.

Step 11: The ground

Start at the left. Draw a long line under both feet across to the right.

Step 12: Red beak and feet

Colour the beak red from the head to the line. Colour both legs and feet red.

Tip Leave the face, tummy, tail and eye white.

Step 13: Black cap and wing

Colour the cap, the long wing and the tip of the beak black.