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How to Draw a Hoopoe
Draw a hoopoe in 12 easy steps, about 9 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: head and fan crest.
Step 1: Head and fan crest
At the top, draw a round head. On top draw a fan of 5 tall feathers leaning back, like fingers.
Step 2: Long curved beak
Start on the front of the head. Draw a long thin beak curving down to a fine point and back.
Step 3: One big eye
A finger behind the beak draw a big round eye. Fill it with a black dot, leaving a white shine.
Step 4: Plump body
Start at the back of the head. Curve down to the rump, round a fat belly, up to the beak.
Tip The body is a plump egg, narrower than the head.
Step 5: Fan tail
From the rump draw a fan down and back, wide at the end, stopping on the tummy. Add feather lines.
Step 6: Folded wing
Start under the head. Draw a teardrop wing along the side, ending in a point above the tail.
Step 7: Front leg and toes
Start on the tummy. Draw a leg that narrows down to the ankle, then 3 chubby toes.
Tip The toes curl down, ready to grip the branch.
Step 8: Back leg and toes
A thumb behind the first leg, draw another from the tummy down to 3 toes. Leave a gap between.
Step 9: The branch
Start at the left edge. Draw a long level branch band under the toes, back to the left edge.
Tip The toes wrap over the branch, so hop the line over them.
Step 10: Cinnamon and sand
Colour the head, crest and body cinnamon, leaving the feather tips and the eye white. Colour the tummy sand.
Step 11: Dark grey parts
Colour the beak, wing, tail and legs dark grey. Leave 3 white wing bands and 1 tail band.
Step 12: Black tips, brown branch
Colour the crest feather tips black and the branch brown, around the toes. Your hoopoe is ready!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a hoopoe, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
