How to Draw a Quetzal

Step 1: The head

Near the top left, draw a big round head, a little wider than tall, with 3 soft puffs on top.

Tip Leave room on the right and underneath for the body and branch.

Step 2: Short beak

Start on the front of the head. Draw a short fat triangle beak out left and back to the head.

Step 3: One big eye

Behind the beak, a finger back, draw a big round eye with a big black dot and a white shine.

Tip Leave a strip of cheek between the beak and the eye.

Step 4: Plump body

Start low on the back of the head. Draw a plump egg body hanging down, and stop under the beak.

Tip The body is narrower than the head, so the head stays big.

Step 5: Fan tail

Start on the rump. Draw a fan tail down and back, wide at the end, and stop on the tummy.

Step 6: Folded wing

Start under the back of the head. Draw a teardrop wing sweeping back to a point above the tail.

Step 7: Front leg and toes

Start at the front of the tummy. Draw a short leg down to 3 chubby toes, back to the tummy.

Tip 2 toes forward, 1 back, ready to grip the branch.

Step 8: Back leg and toes

A thumb behind the first leg, draw a second leg and toes the same way, from the tummy and back.

Tip Leave a gap between the 2 feet.

Step 9: The branch

From the left edge, draw a long branch behind the toes to a round end, then back to the edge.

Step 10: Long tail streamers

From the end of the fan tail, draw 2 long thin feathers hanging down behind the branch, far below it.

Tip Make them longer than the body, and stop before the bottom of your paper.

Step 11: Yellow beak, red chest

Colour the beak yellow. Colour the chest and tummy bright red, from the chin round to the wing.

Step 12: Green feathers

Colour the head, crest, back, wing, fan tail and streamers green, around the red. Leave the eye white.

Step 13: Grey legs, brown branch

Colour the legs and toes dark grey and the branch brown. Your quetzal is done.