How to Draw a Pileated Woodpecker

Step 1: Head and crest

Draw a round head with a pointed crest sweeping back. Add a curved line from the forehead to the back.

Tip The crest leans back like a flame. Keep its line high, above where the eye will go.

Step 2: Long pointy beak

Start on the front of the head, halfway down. Draw a long thin triangle beak and stop on the head.

Step 3: Eye and face stripe

A finger behind the beak draw a big eye. Under it draw a thin stripe from beak to neck.

Step 4: Plump body

Start low on the back of the head. Curve down, round a fat belly, and stop under the beak.

Tip The body is a plump egg hanging under the head, narrower than the head.

Step 5: Fan tail

Start at the back of the body. Draw a fan down and back, and stop on the tummy. Add feathers.

Step 6: Folded wing

Start under the back of the head. Draw a round shoulder, then sweep back to a point above the tail.

Step 7: Front leg and toes

Under the front of the tummy draw a skinny leg with 3 chubby toes. Start and stop on the tummy.

Step 8: Back leg and toes

A thumb behind the first leg draw another leg and toes the same way, starting and stopping on the tummy.

Tip Leave a gap between the 2 feet, at the same height.

Step 9: Tree with a hole

On the left draw a trunk with a branch under the toes, thin at the tip. Add an oval hole.

Tip The branch grows out of the trunk, so no line crosses where they join.

Step 10: Red crest, grey legs

Go over your lines. Colour the crest red. Colour the legs and toes grey.

Step 11: Brown tree, dark wing

Colour the tree and branch brown, around the toes and the hole. Colour the wing, tail and beak dark grey.

Step 12: Black body

Colour the head, body and hole black, around the crest and wing. Leave the eye and face stripe white.