How to Draw a Flying Blue Jay

Step 1: Head and crest

On the left draw a round head. At the back, sweep the line up into a pointy crest.

Tip The crest points up and back, like the bird is zooming along.

Step 2: Short beak

Start on the front of the head. Draw a short pointed beak out to the left and back.

Step 3: Round eye

Near the beak draw a big round eye. Colour a black dot inside it, leaving a tiny shine.

Tip Leave the rest of the eye white.

Step 4: Cap line

Start on the forehead above the beak. Draw a curve over the eye. Stop at the back of the head.

Step 5: Black necklace

Start where that line ends. Draw a C inside the back of the head. Stop under the chin.

Tip The thin moon shape it makes is the necklace.

Step 6: Plump body

Start behind the head. Draw a back line to the right, round a full belly, and stop at the chin.

Tip The body is about twice as long as the head.

Step 7: Long tail

Start on the back end of the body. Draw a long tail that gets wider. Stop on the body.

Tip Give the tail a blunt round end.

Step 8: Big wing

Start on the back. Draw a tall wing leaning back with 3 bumps down one edge. Stop on the back.

Tip The front edge is one smooth curve.

Step 9: Second wing

Start on the back, in front of the big wing. Draw a wing standing up. Stop at the big wing.

Tip It hides a little behind the big wing.

Step 10: Wing bars

Draw 4 lines across the top half of each wing to make 2 thin bars and a tip.

Step 11: Tail bars

Draw 4 lines across the tail to make 2 thin bars and a tip.

Step 12: Blue feathers

Colour the crest, the wings and the tail blue. Leave the bars, tips, face and belly white.

Step 13: Black bars

Colour the beak, the necklace and every bar black. Leave the tips white. Your blue jay is flying!