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How to Draw a Motmot

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a motmot 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 below for the body and branch.
Step 2: Long pointed beak
Start on the front of the head. Draw a long thin dagger beak to a point, ending on the head.
Step 3: Eye, brow and mask
On the head draw a big eye with a shine, a thin brow arch above and a mask stripe behind.
Step 4: Plump body
Start on the back of the head. Curve down round a fat tummy. Stop on the head under the beak.
Tip The body is a plump egg hanging under the head, smaller than the head.
Step 5: Racket tail
From the rump draw 2 long thin feather shafts hanging down, each ending in a small oval paddle.
Tip The rackets are the motmot's signature.
Step 6: Folded wing
Under the back of the head draw a teardrop wing pointing at the tail. Add 2 short feather lines.
Step 7: Front leg
Under the front of the tummy draw a short leg with 3 chubby toes curling down.
Step 8: Back leg
A thumb behind the first leg draw another leg and toes the same way. Leave a gap between them.
Step 9: The branch
Under the feet draw a branch band from the left edge, ending in a rounded tip before the tail rackets.
Tip The toes wrap over the front of the branch.
Step 10: Orange chest, wood branch
Colour the branch light wood brown, and the chest and tummy warm orange.
Step 11: Green head, turquoise brow
Colour the brow turquoise. Colour the head and back strip green, around the brow and mask.
Tip Leave the eye white.
Step 12: Teal wing, black beak
Colour the wing and tail shafts teal and the legs grey. Colour the beak, mask and racket paddles black.