How to Draw a Whooping Crane (Easy Step by Step)
A whooping crane is a fun bird to draw because it is tall, graceful, and made from just a few easy shapes. You will start with one long line for the head, neck, and body, then add a pointy beak, an eye, and two skinny legs. By the end, you will have a bird that looks ready to wade through a marsh.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a whooping crane step by step
How to Draw a Whooping Crane · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Head, neck and body
Start at the top of the head with a small curve, then draw the long, bendy neck sloping down to the left. Keep going around into a big rounded belly, and sweep the line back up and to the right for the back and tail.
Step 2: The long beak
On the left side of the head, draw a long, skinny triangle pointing out to the left. Make the wide end touch the head.
Step 3: The eye
Add a small round dot on the head, just behind the beak.
Step 4: Wing line
Inside the body, draw one long curved line like a smile. Start it in the middle of the body and sweep it down and to the right, ending near the bottom of the belly.
Step 5: Tail tip
At the pointy end of the body on the right, draw a small jagged shape for the tail feathers. Fill it in solid.
Step 6: Thighs and legs
Under the body, draw two little curved bumps for the thighs. Then draw two long, thin lines hanging down from them for the legs.
Step 7: Feet and toes
At the bottom of each leg, draw a few short, skinny toes that spread out to the sides.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your whooping crane? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox or how to draw a hedgehog next.
Tips for drawing a whooping crane
- Draw the neck with a gentle S-curve. If it comes out too straight, erase it and try bending it a little more.
- Make the body a big rounded shape that tilts to the right, so the tail end points away from the head.
- Keep the legs long and thin, and draw them straight down from the body. Add the toes last, and keep them short and small.
Free whooping crane coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this whooping crane coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your whooping crane drawing
Leave the body white or add a soft gray shadow, then color the beak a warm yellow and fill the tail tip black. For a creative twist, draw tall green reeds and blue water around the legs.
Whooping crane fun fact for kids
Whooping cranes are the tallest birds in North America, standing about five feet tall. They were once very rare, but careful protection has helped their numbers grow.
Questions about drawing a whooping crane
What shapes do I need to draw a whooping crane?
You need one long curvy line for the head, neck, and body. The beak is a skinny triangle and the legs are two long thin lines.
How do I make my crane look tall?
Make the neck and legs extra long compared to the body. Tall, thin lines make a crane look elegant and stretched up high.
How do I draw the feet?
Start at the bottom of a leg. Then add a few short, thin toes that spread out to the sides.
