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How to Draw a Magpie

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a magpie 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: the head.

Step 1: The head
Near the top left draw a big round head, with 3 soft low tuft puffs on top at the back.
Tip The tuft is 3 gentle hills, not spikes. Leave room below for the body.
Step 2: Stubby beak
Start on the front of the head, halfway down. Draw a tiny fat triangle beak, back to the head.
Tip Keep the beak short and fat, not a long bill.
Step 3: One big eye
A finger behind the beak draw a big round eye with a black dot, leaving a white speck.
Step 4: Plump body
Start behind the head, curve down to the rump, round a fat belly, and stop back under the head.
Tip The body is a plump egg, narrower than the head.
Step 5: Long narrow tail
From the rump draw a long narrow tail down and back, longer than the body, returning to the tummy.
Tip The tail points down and back, not straight out.
Step 6: Wing and bib line
Start under the head and draw a teardrop wing back to the rump. Curve a bib line chin to wing.
Step 7: Front leg and toes
Start on the tummy near the front. Draw a thin leg down, 3 chubby toes, back up to the tummy.
Tip The toes curl down, ready to grip the branch: 2 forward, 1 back.
Step 8: Back leg and toes
A thumb behind the first leg, start on the tummy and draw another leg and toes, back up to it.
Step 9: The branch
From the left edge, draw a branch top hopping over the toes, round the end, and back along the bottom.
Step 10: Grey beak and legs
Colour the beak grey, then the legs and toes dark grey.
Step 11: Navy wing, brown branch
Colour the wing and the long tail navy blue. Colour the branch brown, around the toes.
Step 12: Black magpie
Colour the head, back and bib black, around the wing. Leave the eye and the tummy white.