How to draw a bird: a step-by-step master class on creating beautiful pencil drawings

Birds are an integral part of wildlife. As children begin to understand the world around them, they first learn about birds that are found literally everywhere. Pigeons and sparrows are on the streets and in parks, woodpeckers are in the forest, and swans are on lakes and ponds. You can watch them constantly.

Some are associated with the seasons. Swallows herald spring and the onset of warmth, and in winter you can see bullfinches on snow-covered tree branches.

At a young age, a child becomes interested in how to draw a beautiful bird with a pencil step by step. This activity is exciting and rewarding, but it is not easy. First you need to get acquainted with the basic techniques and rules. Parents will need help to explain the features of the image from different angles.

Bird body structure

Beginning artists will understand how easy it is to draw a bird if they better learn the techniques and basic rules.

• — All birds have a streamlined shape. This shape is necessary for flight.
• — The skeletal structure of birds is the same. Only the length and size of the individual parts change.
• “The feathers overlap each other like tiles on a roof.” The overlap begins along the front of the crown, then goes down the back to the tail.
• — The structure of the wing corresponds to the structure of the human upper limb, i.e. shoulder, forearm and wrist. The “brush” is the place where the first flight feathers begin to grow.
• — Birds’ knees are almost invisible. It is often covered with feathers.
• — Bird paws are arranged as follows: three fingers point forward and one back.

Digestive system

The high metabolism of birds is supported by a digestive system of a specific structure. Food captured by the beak travels through the esophagus into the crop, where it swells and begins to be digested.

The anterior section of the stomach is glandular, where the chemical breakdown of nutrients takes place; in the second section, the muscular section, mechanical grinding of food masses takes place. Afterwards come the duodenum and small and large intestine, which opens into the cloaca, along with the ducts of the excretory and reproductive systems.

Digestive enzymes are synthesized by the pancreas and liver.

Sketching

Sketches are essential for beginning artists. Just a few strokes allow you to determine the movement and outline of the bird. There is no need to be afraid of imperfect sketches, because their purpose is to prepare the ground for further detailed elaboration.

Each person who undertakes to draw birds must use different possibilities. The first step is to study the drawn pictures of birds. They help to understand the structure of the feather, to anticipate how light and shadow are distributed.

Veils

The skin of birds is practically devoid of sebaceous and port glands. All that remains is the coccygeal gland, the secretion of which lubricates the feathers to protect them from moisture and increase aerodynamics.

Horny derivatives of the skin are feathers; they cover the body of birds, protecting and ensuring flight. There are contour and down feathers, which differ in structure and function.

The most peaceful bird. Drawing of a dove with a simple pencil

Using the example of a dove, you can consider how to draw a bird with a pencil.

This bird was not chosen by chance. The dove is depicted in school wall newspapers dedicated to Victory Day and May 1st. He is a symbol of peace and happiness. Newlyweds use this bird as decoration.

1. The drawing begins by creating a basic outline that includes the wings, head, and torso. The head is outlined. An inclined line is drawn from it - the body (if the pigeon is flying, its tail is lowered down). The wings are indicated by a “tick”.
2. The outline of the tail and the outline of the entire body are drawn. The paws will be in the form of short lines.
3. The visible eye and beak of the bird are drawn.
4. The contours of the plumage are outlined - on the wings and tail.
5. The legs are drawn.
6. The wings are divided into segments - this makes it easier to draw feathers.

Capturing the moment of flight

The most obvious example is the seagull. Even children will understand how to draw a flying bird with a pencil step by step. This process is so simple!

1. The drawn circle is the basis for the head and body, the lower and upper parts are rendered slightly pointed.
2. After drawing the eyes and beak, use an eraser to remove the outline of the circle.
3. Draw the wingspan and tail as if flying. The wing located on the right edge of the sheet looks larger than the left one, and also larger in size in comparison with the entire body.
4. The paws folded together are completed, followed by the hips, depicted by a line leading from the paw down.
5. Draw wings.
6. Everything is decorated with feathers.
7. The final detail is the tail.

To complete the work, defects and unnecessary sketches are eliminated. It is also important to add shadow with a dark pencil on the wings, away from them and at the bottom of the image. Now you can evaluate the result!

Rainbow bird. Drawing of a parrot with felt-tip pens

Step-by-step instructions for beginning artists will help you, step by step, to depict a bird that has absorbed the entire palette of colors.

1. Two ovals are drawn with a simple pencil. The smaller upper oval is the head. The bottom one will be larger - this is the torso.
2. Four stripes are drawn down from the large oval. This is the future tail.
3. Wings are added. One is depicted on top of the oval (body) in the form of a large drop. The second, partially visible wing is drawn in the form of half a drop.
4. The beak is drawn. It looks like a triangle with a curved top.
5. The general image of the parrot is clarified. Auxiliary lines can be erased at this stage.
6. You should “plant” the parrot on a branch. The branch is depicted as a wavy line. Paws in the form of small ovals on top of the branch. In this position they look like a human fist. The claws are being drawn in.
7. The eye is drawn. A parrot's eye looks like several circles nested inside each other.
8. The tail is detailed - the lines turn into pointed ovals.
9. Now you can color the bird.

The Macaw parrot is most often red. The beak is yellow. You can add orange to the wings. And put rainbow colors on your tail! The last circle of the eye is painted over with black and a spot is left for highlight (the remaining circles are not painted).

Fairytale character

Before you begin, you should have all the necessary accessories in front of you, including a ready-made colorful image. Then there will be no problems for beginners on how to draw a firebird step by step with a pencil.

It is necessary to take into account the important nuance that its feathers are full of different colors, glow and can burn. She looks like a Phoenix, but came from the familiar peacock.

The process is divided into stages:

• Draw the head in the form of a circle, eyes, then the beak and crest.
• Conveys the shape of the body.
• In that section of the drawing intended for the wing, draw a curved line, then draw the first layer of feathers.
• Continuing with the 2nd layer of plumage and paws.
• For a very bushy tail, wavy stripes are drawn to indicate the location of the feathers.
• They draw the feathers, drawing the eye to the tip of the feather, which looks like a tongue of flame.

Now you can admire the resulting image!

Summer bird. Drawing of a swallow with colored pencils

Swallows have been familiar to everyone since childhood. They build nests on country verandas and balconies of high-rise buildings. Probably many people have seen their chicks.

With the help of step-by-step instructions on how to draw a bird, the task will not seem difficult.

The main part of the swallow's body is no different from other birds. But the ponytail has a characteristic cut in the middle. The wings are also different - they are sharp and curved.

1. Drawing begins with an image of a circle of the head. From the head, a body with a tail is drawn, reminiscent of a waving flag.
2. The line indicates the division of the body into white and black. The bird's belly and part of its head are white.
3. The unfolded wings are depicted in the shape of a sickle.
4. A triangle is drawn - a beak and a black eye.
5. The wings are being worked on - the plumage is indicated.
6. In order to color a swallow, just a few pencils are enough: yellow for the beak, red for the color of the plumage in the lower part of the head, black for the rest of the part (except for the white part indicated by the border).

Propulsion system

Birds' muscles allow them to perform complex movements with a high degree of coordination. The organs of movement of flying birds are wings.

The pectoral muscles are the most developed (up to 1/5 of the total body weight).

Birds that have lost the ability to fly have powerful leg muscles that allow them to run quickly on the ground.

Night-bird. Drawing of an owl for the little ones

Children love to draw fairy-tale characters. This character is found in many cartoons, fairy tales, and educational programs. Probably every kid knows Aunt Owl from Winnie the Pooh.

1. A large oval is drawn with a thin marker.
2. Two large circles are drawn at the top of the oval - eyes. The owl is notable for the size of its eyes.
3. In the middle of the circles, dots are drawn - pupils.
4. The beak is depicted as a triangle.
5. Ears are also drawn in the form of triangles. Tassels are added at the tips of the ears.
6. The wings on the sides of the oval are in the form of droplets.
7. The paws look like two branches with “fingers”.
8. You can imitate plumage with waves all over the body or with many inverted “birds”.
9. The body is colored with a pair of brown markers and the eyes with yellow.

This method is suitable for little ones. After all, all geometric shapes in the image of an owl are repeated.

The diversity of the class of birds is amazing material for a beginning artist. You can take your first steps into the wonderful world of birds!

Materials for work

You will need to prepare in advance everything you need for the future process:

• Sheets of paper.
• Medium hard pencil.
• Black liner for contour.
• Colored, wax pencils or felt-tip pens.
• Eraser.
• Sample in the form of a picture for an accurate representation.

After the inventory is prepared, you should study the components of the bird in detail.

Photo of a painted bird

Respiratory system

The ability to fly was determined by the special structure of the respiratory system. The lungs are spongy and consist of alveoli intertwined with capillaries.

Some bronchi, without dividing into bronchioles, extend beyond the lungs and form air sacs in the body cavity. These formations provide breathing during flight.

Air enters the bags when the wings rise in flight, and when lowered, it is squeezed out into the lungs.

Circulatory system

In representatives of the class of birds, a separation of arterial and venous circulations appears for the first time.

The heart has four chambers, so venous and arterial blood pass through it without mixing. The consequence of separation is intense gas exchange and constant body temperature, that is, warm-bloodedness.