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How to Draw a Turaco

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a turaco 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: head and tall crest.

Step 1: Head and tall crest
Near the top left, draw a round head. On top, draw a tall round crest with 3 soft bumps.
Tip Keep the 3 bumps soft and round, like fingertips, not spikes.
Step 2: Short stout beak
Start on the front of the head, halfway down. Draw a short fat triangle out and back to the head.
Step 3: One big eye
A finger behind the beak, draw a big round eye. Fill it with a black dot, leaving a white speck.
Step 4: Plump body
Start low on the back of the head. Curve down the back, round a fat belly, up to the beak.
Tip The body is a plump egg under the head, narrower than the head.
Step 5: Fan tail
Start at the bottom of the back. Draw a fan tail down and back, ending on the tummy.
Step 6: Folded wing
Draw a wing on the back to a point. Add a curve near the tip and a feather line.
Step 7: Front leg and toes
Start on the tummy's front. Draw a short leg that narrows, then 3 fat toes, back to the tummy.
Tip 2 toes forward, 1 back: chubby fingers ready to grip the branch.
Step 8: Back leg and toes
Start on the tummy a thumb back. Draw a second leg and toes the same way, ending on the tummy.
Step 9: The branch
Under the toes, draw a long branch band with round ends, thinner at the right, hopping over each toe.
Tip The toes wrap over the front of the branch.
Step 10: Light tummy, red beak
Colour the chest and tummy light green. Colour the beak and the wing tip red.
Step 11: Green head and wing
Colour the head, crest, wing and tail green, around the red and light green. Leave the eye white.
Step 12: Branch and legs
Colour the branch brown, around the toes. Colour the legs and toes dark grey.