How to Draw a Bald Eagle (Easy Step by Step)
A bald eagle is a fun drawing because it looks tough with just a few simple shapes. You will build it from a big dome for the head, a tall body, two curved wings, and rows of little V shapes for feathers. The slanted eyebrows give it a serious look kids love.
- Medium
- 20 minutes
- 8 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a bald eagle step by step
How to Draw a Bald Eagle · 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: The head
Draw a big rounded dome near the top of the page, like an upside-down U. Leave the bottom open for now.
Step 3: The tall body
Draw two long, slightly curved lines going straight down from the sides of the head. Keep them close together, because the wings will go outside them.
Step 4: Wings and neck feathers
Draw a big curved wing on each side, starting at the neck and bowing out before coming back in near the bottom. Finish each wing with a wiggly zigzag edge for feathers, and add a little wiggle at the neck beside each wing.
Step 5: Eyes and eyebrows
Draw two solid round dots for eyes on either side of the face. Above each eye, add a short slanted line for a fierce eyebrow, sloping down toward the middle.
Step 6: The beak
Between the eyes, draw a rounded, wide shape like a rounded shield for the top of the beak. Then draw a pointed U shape that hangs down from it onto the chest for the hooked tip.
Step 7: Chest, legs and talons
Fill the chest with small V shapes in rows of three, two and three. Then draw a short curved line across the bottom of the body, add two legs, and finish each foot with long, pointed toes. Add a short dash out to each side of the feet.
Step 8: The perch branch
Draw a long rounded branch like a stretched-out pill shape on each side of the feet. Stop each piece where the toes are, so the talons look like they grip it.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your bald eagle? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a beach umbrella or how to draw a flamingo pool float next.
Tips for drawing a bald eagle
- Draw the head and body very lightly first so you can fix the shape before you press hard.
- The zigzag feather edges on the wings are the trickiest part, so think of them as tiny mountain peaks and go slowly.
- Keep the V shapes on the chest in neat rows of three, two, and three so they look like real feathers.
Free bald eagle coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this bald eagle 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 bald eagle drawing
Use dark brown for the body and wings, white for the head, and bright yellow for the beak and talons. For a creative twist, add a sunset sky behind the eagle in orange and pink.
Bald eagle fun fact for kids
Bald eagles are not actually bald. The name comes from an old English word that meant white-headed, and young eagles get their white head feathers when they are about five years old.
Questions about drawing a bald eagle
What shapes do I need to draw a bald eagle?
You need a dome for the head, two long lines for the body, two curved wing shapes, and small V shapes for feathers. A long rounded pill shape makes the branch.
How do I make my bald eagle look fierce?
Slant the eyebrows down toward the middle and keep the eyes as solid round dots. A big beak with a hooked tip adds to the look.
How do I draw eagle feathers easily?
Use small V shapes on the chest and zigzag lines along the bottom of the wings. Repeating the same shape in neat rows makes it look tidy.
