How to Draw a Kite Bird

Step 1: Big round head

Start near the top left. Curve up over a big round head and stop low at the back.

Tip Leave the bottom open. The beak grows from the front end, the body from the back.

Step 2: Hooked beak

From the front end of the head line, draw a small hooked beak. Close it with a short line.

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

From the back end of the head line, curve down, round the tummy, and up to under the beak.

Tip Head and body make one smooth shape, with no line between.

Step 5: Neck line

Start on the chest, below the beak. Draw a gentle smile line across. Stop at the back.

Tip Everything above this line is the pale head.

Step 6: Folded wing

Under the neck line, draw a teardrop wing pointing down and back. Add 2 short feather lines.

Step 7: Forked tail

From the back, draw a long tail pointing down and back. End in a deep V. Add a middle line.

Tip A kite's tail is forked like a fish tail. That is how you spot one.

Step 8: Front leg and toes

Under the front of the tummy, draw a short leg with 3 chubby toes, 2 forward and one back.

Tip The toes curl down, ready to grip the branch.

Step 9: Back leg and toes

A thumb behind the first leg, draw a second leg and toes the same way.

Step 10: The branch

Under the toes, draw a long branch, thick on the left and thin on the right.

Step 11: Yellow and grey

Colour the beak and legs yellow. Colour the head light grey, down to the neck line. Leave the eye white.

Step 12: Rusty body and tail

Colour the body rusty orange, around the wing. Colour the forked tail the same.

Step 13: Brown wing and branch

Go over your lines. Colour the wing dark brown and the branch light brown.