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How to Draw a Chickadee Bird

All the free art lessons on How2DrawAnimals.com are easy to follow; they teach you the basics while showing you how to render animals step by step. Each tutorial has a video tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow. After you're done here, try another tutorial!

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To draw this Chickadee, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause after each step to proceed at your own pace. You may find it easier to use the step-by-step drawings underneath the video. The new lines in each step are highlighted in red, so you'll know exactly what to sketch next. You can also open the video in a new tab and combine both methods.

Materials You’ll Need

Before starting, gather these basic drawing supplies:

Pencil (an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches)
Eraser
Black ink pen or marker
Drawing paper
Colored pencils or markers

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

Start with Simple Lines and Shapes

Step 1: Draw a circle as a guide for the top part of the body. The circle doesn't have to be perfect; it's just a guide. Leave enough room on the sides for the head and tail.

Step 2: Draw another circle on the top left side of the body as a guide for the head. This circle should be about half the size of the first one. The edges of the two circles should overlap just a bit.

Step 3: Inside the small circle, draw two intersecting lines. These lines will help you place the facial features later.

Step 4: Draw a small triangle-like shape on the left side of the head as a guide for the beak.

Keep Building the Animal Slowly

Step 5: Add a few more lines to complete the guide for the body. A couple of curved lines at the top form the neck and a small arc on the right side forms the bottom half of the bird's body.

Step 6: Draw a long, narrow arc on the lower right side of the body for the tail.

Step 7: Add a few lines under the body as a guide for the feet.

Finish Up the "Skeleton"

That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined look.

Now Add Details

Step 8: Draw the eye as a circle inside the head. Use the lines as guides for placement. Draw a dot in the middle of the eye for the pupil. Add a smaller circle off to the side to represent glare. Shade the rest of the eye using a value that's almost as dark as the pupil. Add a few lines around the eye for extra detail.

Step 9: Use the triangle-like shape as a guide to draw the beak. Darken the top and bottom of the guides to create the outside of the beak. Draw a line in the middle for the mouth. Draw the base of the beak on the right side by using quick, short strokes for a feathery texture.

Step 10: Use the initial circle as a guide to draw the head. Follow the basic path of the circle as you darken the lines to create the bird's head and neck.

Step 11: Add a few more lines within the head for the detail on the face's pattern. Use quick, short strokes as you draw the pattern across the face.

Step 12: Draw the shape of the folded wing inside the body using a series of lines. The shape basically consists of two curved lines inside the body that come together on the right side to form a point. Use quick, short strokes on the left side of the shape for the feathery base of the wing.

Step 13: Use the lines under the body as guides to draw the feet. Follow the basic path of the guides as you darken the lines and make the shapes thicker. Use short, curved lines in the front for the three folded toes. Draw the foot on the other side by using the other line as a guide.

Stay Patient and Keep Drawing - You're Almost There!

Step 14: Use the initial shapes as guides to draw the outline of the body. Follow the path of the guides as you darken the bird's body. Chickadees fluff up their feathers when they're cold, so make the body round. Use quick, short strokes on the bottom for a feathery texture.

Step 15: Draw the wing on the other side of the tail using the remaining lines as guides. Draw a series of curved lines inside the wing for detail on the feathers. Add more curved lines to the wing on the other side. Darken the shape of the thin arc to create the tail and add a few lines inside for the feathers.

Step 16 (optional): Draw a couple of lines under the feet to give it something to stand on so it doesn't appear to be floating.

Now It's Time to Shade

Step 17 (optional): For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of them; it's okay to leave something behind. Re-draw any of the final lines that you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step (optional): Add some shading to your drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value.

You can add more value throughout your drawing for more detail. Add a dark value on the head for the "cap", which is where the name black-capped chickadee comes from. Push down extra hard on your pencil for the black feathers on the top part of the head. Use the pattern created earlier as a guide for shading in the dark areas. The small section under the beak, called a "bib," is also dark. Don't press down too hard on your pencil for the rest of the body; use a lighter value. Try to add the value by using strokes that go in the general direction of the feathers. Don't worry about shading too smoothly; the rough value gives the feathers a fluffier texture. Use a series of straight lines along the wing to represent the individual feathers. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate result. Remember to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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