How to Draw a Heron (Easy Step by Step)
A heron is a tall, calm bird, and this one is built from a few easy parts: a long beak, a curvy neck, a big wing and one skinny leg. It stands in the water with ripples around its foot, which makes the picture feel peaceful. Kids will enjoy making the neck as curvy as they like.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 8 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 heron step by step
How to Draw a Heron · 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: Beak and head
Start at the tip of the beak on the left and draw a long, thin line going right to the head. Keep going over the top in a round curve, then let the line come down the back of the neck.
Step 3: Neck and chest
Draw a short line under the beak for the bottom of the beak. Then curve down from there for the front of the neck, and keep going in a big smooth curve to make the chest and belly.
Step 4: The big wing
Start where the neck meets the back and draw a long, smooth hill that sweeps down to the right and ends in a rounded tip. Close the bottom with a wavy line back toward the middle.
Step 5: The eye
Add a small dot for the eye on the head, a little above where the beak begins.
Step 6: Wing feather line
Inside the body, draw one curved line that bends like a smile. Start near the neck and sweep it down and to the right.
Step 7: Leg and foot
Draw one long, thin leg straight down from the bottom of the body. At the bottom, add a few short lines spreading out for the toes.
Step 8: Water ripples
Draw a few wide, flat curved lines around the foot, like rings in the water. Leave small gaps in some of them so they look like ripples.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your heron? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox or how to draw a hedgehog next.
Tips for drawing a heron
- Draw the neck slowly in one smooth curve. If it wobbles, lightly sketch it with a pencil first and go over it after.
- Keep the beak long and thin, like a pointy triangle, so it stretches out to the left of the head.
- Draw the leg thin and nearly straight, then let the ripples circle around the foot.
Free heron coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this heron 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 heron drawing
Try soft gray and white for the feathers, a yellow beak and a blue-green pond. For a creative twist, color the ripples in rainbow stripes.
Heron fun fact for kids
Herons often stand very still in shallow water, then snap their long necks forward to catch a fish.
Questions about drawing a heron
What shapes do I need to draw a heron?
You need a long pointy beak, a curvy line for the neck, a big hill shape for the wing and a thin line for the leg. A small dot makes the eye.
How do I make my heron look more graceful?
Make the neck long and gently curved, and keep the leg thin. A tall, slim shape is what makes a heron look elegant.
How do I draw water ripples around the heron?
Draw a few wide, flat curves around the foot. Leave small gaps in some of the lines so the water looks like it is moving.
