How to Draw a Jacana

Step 1: The head

Near the top left of your paper draw a big round head, a little wider than tall.

Tip Leave room on the right and below for the body and legs.

Step 2: Beak and shield

Draw a slim dagger beak on the head's front. Curve a small shield from the forehead down to it.

Tip Keep the beak short, not a long bill.

Step 3: Big eye and cap

Draw a big round eye with a black dot. Add a cap band down the back of the head.

Step 4: Plump body

Start at the back of the head, round a fat tummy, and stop under the front of the head.

Tip The body hangs under the head like a plump egg, narrower than the head.

Step 5: Fan tail

Start on the rump. Draw a fan down and back, round the wide end, and back to the tummy.

Step 6: Folded wing

Start under the back of the head. Draw a round shoulder, then sweep back to a point on the rump.

Step 7: Front leg and toes

Under the front of the tummy draw a thin leg bending at the ankle, then 4 long spreading toes.

Tip Jacana toes are as long as the leg, for walking on floating leaves.

Step 8: Back leg and toes

A little further back draw a second thin leg. Add 4 more long toes, not touching the first foot.

Step 9: Lily pad and water

Draw a flat oval lily pad with a V notch. Run a wavy water line behind it, edge to edge.

Step 10: Grey beak, blue shield

Leave the head and the eye white. Colour the beak grey and the little forehead shield blue.

Step 11: Chestnut body, brown wing

Colour the body chestnut brown, and the wing and tail darker brown, pressing lightly so the lines show.

Step 12: Green pad, blue water

Colour the lily pad green around the toes, then the water blue all around the pad, edge to edge.

Step 13: Black cap and legs

Colour the cap, the 2 thin legs and all 8 long toes black.