How to Draw a Macaw

Step 1: The head

Near the top left draw a big round head, with 3 soft low puffs on top toward the back.

Tip Leave room on the right and below. The tuft is 3 gentle hills.

Step 2: Big hooked beak

From the forehead draw a big hooked beak down to a sharp point, back to the chin. Add a mouth.

Tip Keep the beak short and fat, not a long bill.

Step 3: Eye and face patch

Behind the beak draw a big dot eye. Round it draw a big C face patch, beak to chin.

Tip Keep the patch a finger clear of the eye all round.

Step 4: Plump body

From the back of the head draw a plump egg body round a fat belly, back to the chin.

Tip The body hangs straight under the head and is narrower than the head.

Step 5: Long fan tail

From the rump draw a long fan tail sloping down, wide and round at the end, back to the tummy.

Tip Like an open hand of feathers, narrow at the body, wide at the end.

Step 6: Wing and colour bar

Under the head draw a teardrop wing, round at the shoulder, pointing at the tail. Add a bar across it.

Tip A thin strip of back shows above the wing.

Step 7: Front leg and toes

Under the front of the tummy draw a short leg that narrows, then 2 chubby round toes curling down.

Tip The toes are ready to grip the branch.

Step 8: Back leg and toes

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

Step 9: The branch

Just under the tummy draw a long thick branch across, stopping at each toe. Rub out the tail inside it.

Tip The toes wrap over the front of the branch, so the bird really grips.

Step 10: Blue and yellow wing

Colour the wing yellow above the bar and blue below it. Colour the bottom tail feather blue too.

Step 11: Red macaw

Colour the head, body and tail red around the blue and yellow, leaving the face patch and eye white.

Step 12: Grey beak, brown branch

Colour the beak, legs and toes grey, then colour the branch brown.