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How to Draw a Mockingbird

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a mockingbird 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: round head.

Step 1: Round head
Near the top left of your paper draw a big round head, a little wider than tall.
Tip Leave room on the right and underneath for the body and the branch.
Step 2: Slim straight beak
Start on the front of the head, halfway down. Draw a slim straight beak out to a point and back.
Tip A mockingbird's beak is slim and straight, about a third of a head long.
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 and curve down to the rump. Swing round a fat belly, up under the head.
Tip The body is a plump egg, narrower than the head.
Step 5: Long fan tail
From the rump draw a long fan tail down and back, as long as the body, returning to the tummy.
Tip The tail points down and back, not straight out.
Step 6: Folded wing
Start under the head. Draw a round wing curving down and back to a point just under the tail.
Step 7: Front leg and toes
Start on the front of the tummy. Draw a thin leg down, 3 short round toes, and back up.
Tip Draw it in one go, like a thin mitten with 3 round toes.
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
Under the toes draw a long branch, thinner at both ends, hopping over each toe. Add a small twig.
Step 10: Grey head
Colour the head grey, leaving the eye white. The tummy stays white.
Step 11: Dark wing and tail
Colour the wing, tail, beak and legs dark grey, leaving 2 white bars across the wing.
Step 12: Brown branch
Colour the branch and twig brown, around the toes. Go over your lines and you are done!