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How to Draw a Kingfisher

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a kingfisher 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: big round head.

Step 1: Big round head
Near the top, draw a big round head just right of the middle, a little wider than tall.
Tip Leave room on the left for the long beak, and underneath for the body.
Step 2: Long dagger beak
Start on the front of the head. Draw a long thin dagger beak out left and back to the head.
Step 3: Eye and cheek patch
Draw a big eye with a black dot and a bean behind it. Add a curve inside the back edge.
Tip Keep the eye a finger behind the beak.
Step 4: Plump body
Start low on the back of the head. Draw a plump egg body hanging down, and stop under the beak.
Tip The body is narrower than the head, so the head stays big.
Step 5: Stubby tail
Start on the rump. Draw a short fan tail down and back, and stop on the tummy line.
Step 6: Folded wing
Start under the head. Draw a fat U wing down and back. Stop on the back, above the tail.
Tip Add 2 short feather lines inside the wing.
Step 7: Front leg and toes
Start under the front of the tummy. Draw a short leg, 2 chubby toes forward and 1 back, then up.
Tip Keep the leg tiny, so the tummy sits low.
Step 8: Back leg and toes
A thumb behind the first leg, draw a second leg and toes the same way, from the tummy and back.
Tip Leave a gap between the 2 feet.
Step 9: The branch
Start on the left, under the ankles. Draw a long band across behind the toes, then back along the bottom.
Step 10: Orange chest and legs
Colour the tummy under the wing, the bean behind the eye, and the legs and toes orange.
Step 11: Teal head and wing
Colour the head, wing and tail teal around the bean. Leave the eye and neck patch white.
Step 12: Black beak, brown branch
Colour the beak black, and the branch brown around the toes.