How to Draw a Cardinal (Easy Step by Step)
The cardinal is a fun bird to draw because it is made from just a few easy shapes: a big round pear for the body, a pointy bump for the crest, and a leaf shape for the tail. This little bird stands on a branch with a small bump and a leaf, so you get to draw a whole scene. Take your time, and your cardinal will turn out great.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a cardinal step by step
How to Draw a Cardinal · 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: Body and crest
Start with a big, round pear shape for the body, a little narrower at the top. At the top of the head, draw a small pointy bump that sticks up, like a short party hat.
Step 3: The tail
On the right side of the body, draw a long leaf shape that curves down and out. Add a tiny tick where the tail meets the body.
Step 4: The beak
On the left side of the face, draw a small pointy shape like a sideways ice cream cone, with the tip pointing left. Let its flat side rest against the body.
Step 5: Eye and mouth line
Next to the beak, draw a round oval for the eye that touches the beak. Fill in a round dot in the middle, then draw a short straight line across the beak for the mouth.
Step 6: The wing
On the lower part of the body, draw a big rounded triangle for the wing. Tuck its pointy corner against the right edge of the body.
Step 7: Legs and branch
Draw two short straight lines going down from the bottom of the body. Then draw a long, bumpy sausage shape underneath for the branch, with the legs standing on top of it.
Step 8: Bump and leaf
On the left end of the branch, draw a small round bump. Then add a little pointy leaf shape right beside it, overlapping the bump a bit.
Step 9: Feather lines
Add one curved line inside the wing, like a rainbow. Then draw a long curved line inside the tail to show the feathers.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your cardinal? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a letter to Santa or how to draw skis next.
Tips for drawing a cardinal
- Draw the body first and make it big. The cardinal is mostly one round pear shape, so everything else fits around it.
- The crest is a small pointy bump at the top of the head. Draw a line up to a sharp tip, then come back down on the other side.
- Draw the beak so its flat side rests against the front of the body. Then the beak and the eye will look like they belong on the same face.
Free cardinal coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this cardinal 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 cardinal drawing
Color the body, crest and tail bright red, and use black around the beak and eye. For a creative twist, make a snowy winter scene with white dots falling all around the branch.
Cardinal fun fact for kids
Male cardinals are bright red, but females are mostly tan with some red on their wings, tail and crest. Cardinals do not fly south in winter, so you can spot them in snowy backyards.
Questions about drawing a cardinal
What shapes do I need to draw a cardinal?
You need a big pear shape for the body, a small pointy bump for the crest, a cone for the beak, a rounded triangle for the wing, and a long leaf shape for the tail. An oval works for the eye.
How do I make my cardinal look cuter?
Make the eye big and add a little round dot in the middle. A round, chubby body also makes your cardinal look extra cute.
How do I draw the cardinal's crest?
Start at the top of the head and draw a line up to a sharp point. Then draw back down the other side so it makes a small pointy bump.
