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How to Draw a Heron
Draw a heron 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: small sleek head.
Step 1: Small sleek head
Near the top left, draw a small egg-shaped head, a little wider than tall.
Tip Leave lots of room under it for a long neck and very long legs.
Step 2: Dagger beak
From the front of the head, draw a long dagger beak, ending at the chin. Add a smiling mouth line.
Step 3: Big round eye
Behind the beak, in the middle of the head, draw a big eye with a black dot and shine.
Step 4: Two head plumes
Start at the back of the head. Draw 2 thin plumes sweeping back, about as long as the beak.
Step 5: Long S neck
Start under the head. Draw 2 thin neck lines down like a lazy S, stopping 2 heads lower.
Tip Keep the 2 lines close together, so the neck is thinner than the eye.
Step 6: Slim body
From the back neck line, draw a long slim egg body and stop at the front neck line.
Step 7: Wing and tail
Draw a leaf wing on the body, pointing back. Under its tip, draw a pointed tail from the body.
Step 8: One long leg
Start on the tummy. Draw a long thin leg that bends backwards, 3 thin toes, then back up.
Tip The bend is the ankle, so it points to the back.
Step 9: The other leg
A hand further back, start on the tummy and draw the second leg the same way.
Step 10: Water and reeds
Draw a wavy water line from edge to edge, hopping over the legs. Add 2 reed clumps on it.
Step 11: Yellow beak, tan legs
Leave the head and eye white. Colour the beak yellow and both long legs and toes tan.
Step 12: Blue water
Colour the water blue all the way to the edges, going around the legs and toes.
Step 13: Slate body, navy wing
Colour the neck and body slate grey, and colour the wing and the pointed tail navy.
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a heron, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
