How to Draw a Mockingbird (Easy Step by Step)
A mockingbird is a perky little songbird, and this one is built from just a few simple shapes. You start with a big egg-like outline for the head and body, add a small triangle beak, and finish with a long tail and a branch to sit on. The short lines in front of the beak show that the bird is singing.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 9 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 mockingbird step by step
How to Draw a Mockingbird · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: Head and body outline
Start at the left side of the head and draw a big curve up and over the top, like a hill. Then draw the back sloping down to the left, and the round chest and belly curving down on the right, ending with a small bump at the bottom.
Step 3: Beak and song lines
Add a small triangle on the front of the head, with its flat side against the face and its point sticking out to the right. Then draw two short lines in front of the beak, one slanted and one flat, to show the bird singing.
Step 4: The eye
Draw a small solid dot on the face, a little back from the beak. Fill it in so your bird looks bright and curious.
Step 5: Bottom of the wing
Start on the belly side and draw one long curve that sweeps down and to the left. End it with a small hook at the left tip, past the back of the body.
Step 6: The long tail
Under the wing's left tip, draw two long lines that slant down and to the left. Join them at the end with a rounded tip, like a long finger. Add a short bumpy line near the bottom of the belly.
Step 7: Wing feathers
At the left end of the wing, draw three or four curved stripes that follow the wing's shape. Make each one a little shorter than the last.
Step 8: The branch
Under the bird, draw two nearly flat lines going left to right for the branch. Draw a short piece on the left and a longer piece on the right, and leave a gap under the belly where the feet will go.
Step 9: The feet
Draw two small chunky shapes on the branch under the belly, one on the left and one on the right. They are the bird's feet gripping the branch.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your mockingbird? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox or how to draw a hedgehog next.
Tips for drawing a mockingbird
- Draw the light oval first. Then it is easy to trace the body outline over the top.
- The tail is the trickiest part. Draw two long lines that run side by side, then close the end with a smooth curve.
- Add the wing stripes last, and let each one curve the same way as the wing so they look like feathers.
Free mockingbird coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this mockingbird 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 mockingbird drawing
Color the bird soft gray on top with a pale belly, and the beak a dark gray. For a creative twist, color the branch brown and draw colorful music notes floating around the singing bird.
Mockingbird fun fact for kids
The northern mockingbird is the state bird of five U.S. states: Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.
Questions about drawing a mockingbird
What shapes do I need to draw a mockingbird?
You need a big egg shape for the head and body, a small triangle for the beak, and a long curve for the wing. A long rounded tube makes the tail.
How do I make my mockingbird look cuter?
Keep the body nice and round and make the eye a nice solid dot. Short, simple lines in front of the beak make it look like it is happily singing.
How do I draw the tail feathers?
Draw two long lines that slant down and to the left, side by side. Then close the end with a rounded tip so the tail looks like a long finger.
