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How to Draw a Frigatebird

13 steps · Medium · about 10 min

Draw a frigatebird in 13 easy steps, about 10 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: round head.

Step 1: Round head
Near the top left, draw a big round head with a smooth dome on top and a tiny chin bump.
Tip Leave room on the right and underneath for the body.
Step 2: Long hooked beak
From the front of the head, draw a long beak that curls down into a hook. Stop at the chin.
Tip The hook on the end is how it grabs fish.
Step 3: One big eye
Behind the beak, draw a big round eye. Fill it with a big black dot, leaving a white speck.
Step 4: Plump body
Start on the back of the head. Draw a plump egg body hanging under the head. Stop under the beak.
Tip The body is narrower than the head, so the head stays big.
Step 5: Red throat balloon
Start under the beak. Draw a big balloon that swells down over the chest and back up to the chin.
Tip The balloon is the frigatebird's show-off trick.
Step 6: Forked tail
Start low on the back. Draw a long tail with 2 sharp points like a fork. Stop under the bottom.
Step 7: Folded wing
Start under the back of the head. Draw a long teardrop wing along the side, ending at the tail.
Step 8: Front leg and toes
Start on the tummy. Draw a very short leg with 3 little chubby toes hanging down. Stop on the tummy.
Step 9: Back leg and toes
Start on the tummy, a thumb behind the first leg. Draw a second leg and toes. Stop on the tummy.
Step 10: The branch
Start under the beak. Draw a long branch behind the toes, and stop under the tip of the tail.
Step 11: Grey beak, red balloon
Colour the beak light grey and the throat balloon bright red.
Step 12: Dark grey bird
Colour the head, body, wing, tail and legs dark grey, around the balloon. Leave the eye white.
Step 13: Brown branch
Colour the branch brown, around the toes.