How to Draw a Yellowhammer

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 below for the body and the branch.

Step 2: Stubby beak

From the head, draw a short cone beak out to a point and back. Add a short mouth line.

Tip A yellowhammer has a short, thick beak for cracking seeds.

Step 3: One big eye

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

Step 4: Plump body

Start on the back of the head. Draw a plump egg body hanging down. End under the beak.

Tip Narrower than the head, so the head stays big.

Step 5: Long forked tail

Under the back of the body, draw a long tail pointing down and back, ending in a V notch.

Tip The 2 tips of the tail are round and the same size.

Step 6: Folded wing

From behind the head, draw a teardrop wing along the side, pointing at the tail. Add 2 short feather lines.

Tip Keep a strip of body between the wing and the back.

Step 7: Cheek stripe

Behind the eye, draw a thin curved stripe like a slice of moon. Leave a gap round the eye.

Step 8: Front leg and toes

Under the front of the tummy, draw a short leg, narrower at the ankle, with 3 chubby toes.

Tip Draw it in one go, like a mitten with 3 round toes.

Step 9: Back leg and toes

A thumb behind the first leg, draw a second leg and toes the same way, at the same height.

Step 10: The branch

Under the toes, draw a long level branch, with space at both ends, hopping over each toe.

Tip The toes wrap over the branch so the bird really grips.

Step 11: Yellow head and body

Colour the head and body bright yellow. Leave the eye, cheek stripe, wing and tail white.

Step 12: Grey beak, peach legs

Colour the beak grey. Colour the legs and toes peach.

Step 13: Light brown branch

Colour the branch light brown, going around the toes.

Step 14: Brown feathers

Colour the wing, the tail and the cheek stripe brown, and your yellowhammer is ready to sing.