With that enormous, colorful beak, a toucan is one of the most recognizable birds in the world. It’s also a blast to draw. Learning how to draw a toucan is all about getting that big, curved bill right. Once you’ve nailed that, the rest falls into place. Ready? Let’s go!
Materials
- Paper
- A pencil
- An eraser
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils (optional)
Pro tip: Toucans are famous for their wild colors, so have your brightest markers or crayons handy for the final step.
Step 1: Draw the Beak and Head
Start with the most famous part: the beak. Draw a large, curved shape that looks like a banana or a wide, flat letter C. It should be big! A toucan’s beak can be almost as long as its entire body. Then add a rounded head shape at the back end of the beak, connecting it smoothly.
Step 2: Add the Body, Wing, and Tail
Draw a rounded body shape below and behind the head, about twice the size of the head. Sketch a wing along the side of the body with a slightly pointed end. Add a long, squared-off tail extending down from the back. Toucans have tails that are surprisingly long and stiff, which helps them balance on branches.
Step 3: Draw the Face and Feet
Now give your toucan a personality. Add a large, round eye near the top of the head. Draw a line along the beak to separate the upper and lower bill, and add a small nostril near the base. Sketch in two feet gripping a branch underneath the bird. Toucan feet have two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward, which gives them a strong grip on tree branches.
Step 4: Finish with Color and Details
This is the fun part. Add feather texture with short lines on the wing and body. Darken the eye and add a highlight dot. Now color it in! A keel-billed toucan (the most famous species) has a black body, bright yellow chest, and a beak painted with green, orange, red, and yellow. The skin around the eye is lime green. But feel free to use whatever colors you like. With more than 40 species of toucans, there’s plenty of variety in the real world.
Grownup help needed: None!
Want to wear a toucan instead of draw one? Make a Toucan Headband!
