How to Draw a Junco

Step 1: The head

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

Tip Leave room underneath for the body and the branch.

Step 2: Tiny cone beak

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

Step 3: Big dark eye

Behind the beak draw a big round eye. Colour a big black dot inside, leaving a small shine.

Tip A junco is called dark-eyed, so make the dot big.

Step 4: Plump body

Start low on the back of the head. Curve down, round a fat belly, and stop under the beak.

Tip The body is a plump egg hanging under the head, narrower than the head.

Step 5: Fan tail

Start at the back of the body. Draw a fan down and back, stopping on the tummy. Add 2 lines.

Step 6: Folded wing

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

Step 7: Hood line

Start on the front of the chest. Draw a sagging curve across to the wing, and stop there.

Tip Above this line the junco wears a dark hood. Below it the tummy is white.

Step 8: Front leg and toes

Under the front of the tummy draw a short leg with 3 chubby toes. Start and stop on the tummy.

Step 9: Back leg and toes

A thumb away from the first leg, draw another leg with 3 toes, starting and stopping on the tummy.

Tip Leave a gap between the 2 feet, at the same height.

Step 10: The branch

Start at the left, just under the ankles. Draw a long branch across to the right, passing behind the toes.

Step 11: Pink beak, peach legs

Colour the tiny beak pale pink. Colour both legs and all the toes peach.

Step 12: Dark grey hood

Colour the head, chest, back, wing and middle tail feather dark grey. Leave the tummy and eye white.

Tip The white tail edges flash when a junco flies away.

Step 13: Brown branch

Colour the branch brown, going around the toes, and your junco is done!