How to Draw a Swallow

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 underneath for the body and the branch.

Step 2: Tiny beak

Start on the front of the head, halfway down. Draw a tiny fat triangle beak, back to the head.

Tip Keep the beak short and fat, not a long bill.

Step 3: Eye and throat patch

Behind the beak draw a big round eye with a black dot. Under the beak draw a C throat patch.

Step 4: Plump body

Start behind the head and curve down to the rump. Swing round a fat belly, up to the throat patch.

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

Step 5: Forked tail

From the rump draw a long point back, in to a deep notch, out to a second point, and back.

Tip A swallow's tail is forked, like an open pair of scissors.

Step 6: Long pointed wing

Start under the head and draw a teardrop wing pointing back past the rump to a long sharp point.

Step 7: Front leg and toes

Start on the tummy near the front. Draw a thin leg down, 3 chubby toes, back up to the tummy.

Tip The toes curl down, ready to grip the branch: 2 forward, 1 back.

Step 8: Back leg and toes

A thumb behind the first leg, start on the tummy and draw another leg and toes, back up to it.

Step 9: The branch

From the left edge draw a branch, with a small twig, hopping over the toes, round the end and back.

Step 10: Cream chest, red throat

Colour the chest and tummy cream, from the throat down round to the tail. Colour the throat patch red.

Step 11: Grey legs, brown branch

Colour the tiny beak and both legs dark grey. Colour the branch brown, around the toes.

Step 12: Navy feathers

Colour the head, back, wing and tail navy, around the throat and chest. Leave the eye white.