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How to Draw a Toucan

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a toucan in 12 easy steps, about 9 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: round head with tuft.

Step 1: Round head with tuft
Near the top, right of the middle, draw a big round head with 3 soft puffs on top.
Tip Leave room underneath for the body and branch. Keep the puffs low.
Step 2: Huge banana beak
From the forehead, draw a long banana beak out left, a whole head long, back to the chin.
Tip The beak is huge: as long as the whole head.
Step 3: Eye and white face
Behind the beak, draw a big round eye with a black dot, and a big C round it: the face.
Step 4: Plump body and bib
From behind the head, draw a plump egg body up to the beak. Add a U bib under the head.
Step 5: Fan tail
From the bottom, draw a fan tail pointing down and back, wide at the end. Add 2 feather lines.
Step 6: Folded wing
Under the head, draw a teardrop wing along the bird's side, pointing at the tail. Add 2 feather lines.
Step 7: Front leg and toes
Under the front of the tummy, draw a short leg that gets thinner, with 3 fat toes curling down.
Tip The toes are chubby fingers curling down, 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. Leave a gap between.
Step 9: The branch
Under the feet, draw a long level branch band, nearly as wide as the page, passing behind the toes.
Tip The toes wrap over the front of the branch so the bird really grips.
Step 10: Orange beak, blue ring
Colour the beak orange up to the short line. Colour a pale blue ring around the eye.
Step 11: Grey wing, brown branch
Colour the wing, fan tail, legs and toes dark grey. Colour the branch brown.
Step 12: Black toucan
Colour the head, body and beak tip black, around the white face and bib. Leave the eye white.