How to Draw a Swallow (Easy Step by Step)
Learn how to draw an easy swallow step-by-step using simple shapes like circles and curved lines. You'll discover how to combine these basic forms to create a charming bird, perfect for beginners.
- Learn to draw an easy swallow using simple shapes.
- Start your swallow with a round head and plump body.
- Use a single leaf shape to create the wing.
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This little swallow is built from a round head, a plump round body, and one big leaf-shaped wing. It is a great first bird because most of it is circles and curved lines. Once you know how to put the shapes together, you can draw it again and again.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 6 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 swallow step by step
How to Draw a Swallow · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: The head top
Draw a curved line like a rainbow arch for the top of the head. Leave the bottom open on both sides, because the head will join the body and wing later.
Step 2: The round tummy
Start at the right end of the head arch, leaving a small gap, and draw a long curve down and around to the left, like a big round belly. Stop at the bottom left, under the middle of the body.
Step 3: The big wing
Start near the left side of the head and draw a long, slanted line out to the upper left. Curve it back down and around to the belly like a leaf shape. Then add a small smile-shaped curve inside the wing.
Step 4: The tail
At the lower left of the body, draw two straight lines going down and to the left. Close the end with a short wavy line to make a tail shape.
Step 5: Eye and beak
Fill in a round dot for the eye near the right side of the head. Then draw a small pointed beak in the gap on the right, where the head meets the body.
Step 6: Two tiny feet
Under the belly, draw two short, straight legs. At the bottom of each one, add a little forked foot, like a tiny letter Y.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your swallow? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox or how to draw a hedgehog next.
Tips for drawing a swallow
- Draw the head and body slowly with smooth curves, so the bird looks plump and the neck joins nicely.
- The wing is the trickiest part. Draw the long top edge first, then curve the bottom back to the body, and add the smile-shaped feather line last.
- Keep the legs short and thin and make the feet small, so they do not look bigger than the tail.
Free swallow coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this swallow 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 swallow drawing
Try deep blue on the back and wing, a cream belly, and a rusty orange patch under the beak, like a real barn swallow. For a twist, color the wing in rainbow stripes.
Swallow fun fact for kids
Many swallows fly thousands of miles every year. Barn swallows nest in North America in summer and then fly all the way to South America for the winter.
Questions about drawing a swallow
What shapes do I need to draw a swallow?
You need a round arch for the head, a big curve for the body, a long leaf shape for the wing, a small pointed beak, and a tail shape with a wavy end.
How do I make my swallow look cuter?
Make the body extra round and the eye a big, dark dot. A short little beak and tiny feet make it look like a baby bird.
How do I draw a swallow in flight?
Try drawing the wing pointing up higher, and leave off the legs. Add a few curved lines behind the tail to show it zooming through the air.
