How to Draw a Finch

Step 1: The head

Start low on the front and draw a big round head over the top. Stop low at the back.

Tip Leave a gap at the bottom for the neck. Keep the top smooth.

Step 2: Short cone beak

Start on the front of the head, halfway down. Draw a tiny fat triangle beak, back to the head.

Tip Keep the beak short and fat, not a long bill.

Step 3: Eye and cap

Draw a big eye with a dot. Curve a cap line from the beak, over the eye, to the back.

Tip The cap line is one smooth curve, like the edge of a hat.

Step 4: Plump body

Start under the back of the head. Curve down round a fat belly and up to the throat.

Tip Curve in a little at the neck, so the head stays round.

Step 5: Fan tail

Start on the rump. Draw a fan tail pointing down and back, round the end and back to the body.

Step 6: Folded wing

Start under the head. Draw a long wing down the back, ending in a sharp point over the tail.

Tip Make the wing much longer than it is wide, like a leaf.

Step 7: Front leg and toes

Start on the tummy near the front. Draw a short leg down, 3 chubby toes, back up to the tummy.

Tip The toes curl down, ready to grip the branch: 2 forward, 1 back.

Step 8: Back leg and toes

A little behind the first leg, start on the tummy and draw another leg and toes, back up to it.

Step 9: The branch

Under the toes, draw a long, gently curved branch, thinner at the right end. Hop over each toe.

Step 10: Yellow finch, orange beak

Colour the head and body yellow, not the cap or wing. Colour the beak orange. Leave the eye white.

Step 11: Tan legs, brown branch

Colour the legs and toes tan. Colour the branch brown, around the toes.

Step 12: Black cap, wing, tail

Colour the cap, wing and tail black. Leave 2 thin white bars across the wing. Your goldfinch is done!