How to Draw a Roadrunner

Step 1: Long body

Across the middle of your paper, draw a long egg body lying level, a little higher at the back.

Tip Leave room on the left for the head, and above the back for the tail.

Step 2: Head and neck

Draw a round head up in front. Start under it, draw 2 thick neck lines, and stop on the body.

Tip Rub out the bit of body line between the neck lines, so the neck flows into the body.

Step 3: Long pointed beak

From the head, draw a long pointed beak. Add a mouth line from near the tip back to the head.

Tip Make the beak long and sharp. That long beak says roadrunner.

Step 4: One big eye

High on the head, draw a big round eye with a black dot, leaving a white shine.

Step 5: Shaggy crest

Start on top of the head. Draw 3 shaggy spikes leaning back, and stop at the back of the head.

Step 6: Long raised tail

From the back, curve a long tail up to a round tip, then come down to the rump.

Tip Rub out the body line inside the tail. Let the tail get a little wider toward its tip.

Step 7: Folded wing

Start just behind the neck. Curve a round wing down and along the body, and stop under the tail.

Step 8: Streaks and bars

Draw 3 short streaks inside the wing, and 2 bars across the tail near its tip.

Step 9: Front leg and toes

Under the front of the tummy, draw a thin leg that bends back halfway, ending in 3 toes.

Step 10: Back leg and toes

A thumb further back, draw the second leg and its 3 toes the same way.

Step 11: Ground and grass

From the left edge to the right edge, draw a ground line under the toes. Add 2 grass tufts.

Step 12: Cream and tan

Colour the neck, chest and tummy cream, and the long beak tan.

Step 13: Brown feathers

Colour the head, crest, wing and tail brown, around the eye. Leave the eye white.

Step 14: Grey legs

Colour both legs and all the toes grey. Your roadrunner is done!