How to Draw a Nene

Step 1: Round head

Near the top left of your paper draw a round head, a little wider than tall.

Tip Leave room below for the neck and a big body.

Step 2: Short bill

Start on the front of the head. Draw a short flat bill, back to the chin. Add a mouth line.

Step 3: One big eye

A little behind the bill draw a big round eye. Fill it with a black dot, leaving a white speck.

Step 4: Thick neck

Start under the head. Draw 2 smooth lines down like a lazy S, and stop at the shoulders.

Tip A nene's neck is shorter and thicker than a farm goose's.

Step 5: Plump body

Start at the back neck line. Draw a big bean body with a fat tummy. Stop at the front neck.

Step 6: Teardrop wing

Behind the neck draw a big teardrop wing lying along the body, pointing at the rump. Add 3 feather lines.

Step 7: Short pointed tail

Start on the rump and draw a short pointed tail sticking out and up, back to the body.

Step 8: Long legs and feet

Under the tummy, draw 2 long legs. Each ends in a flat foot with round toes.

Tip The legs bend a little, like a knee pointing back.

Step 9: Neck ring and furrows

Start on the front neck line. Draw a curved ring across to the back. Add 3 short slanted lines above.

Tip The slanted lines are the deep furrows in a nene's neck feathers.

Step 10: Cheek line

Start under the chin. Draw a hill behind the eye, then down the neck's back. Stop at the ring.

Tip Keep the line a finger away from the eye.

Step 11: Ground and grass

Start at the left edge and draw a ground line under the feet, across to the right edge. Add grass.

Step 12: Brown neck, grey body

Colour the cheek and the front of the neck light brown. Colour the body soft grey, around the wing.

Step 13: Brown wing, dark feet

Colour the wing dark brown. Colour the bill, the legs and the feet dark grey.

Step 14: Black cap and tail

Colour the face and top of the head, the stripe down the back of the neck and the tail black.

Tip Leave the eye white so it shines out of the black face.