In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Female Mallard Duck step-by-step.

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All of the tutorials on How2DrawAnimals.com are good drawing tutorials for beginners and experienced artists alike. The online tutorials are easy to follow; they teach you the how to draw basics while showing you how to draw animals step by step. Each animal has a video drawing tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow.

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To draw this Mallard Duck step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace.

Below you can watch a Narrated step-by-step video tutorial:

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake.

Step 1: Draw a circle as a guide for the middle section of the female mallard duck's body. To draw the circle, first make four marks to determine the circle's height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. If you're struggling to draw the circle, just trace the outer rim of a circular object like a cup or a bowl. For a more detailed guide on the different ways to draw a circle check out this tutorial: Four simple ways to draw a circle. On the left side of the circle, draw a curved line as a guide for the front part of the body. This line should be similar to an arc on its side.

Step 2: On the left side, draw a bigger arc the same way as a guide for the back portion of the mallard duck's body. Pay attention to how big the arcs are in relation to the circle in the middle. On the top, left side, draw a small circle as a guide for the head. This circle should be very small in relation to the body. Don't draw the circle to high above the body or your duck's neck will be too long and look like a goose or swan instead!

Step 3: Inside the head, draw two intersecting lines that look like a plus sign. These are guide lines that will help you place the duck's facial features later on. On the left side of the head circle, draw a curved line as a guide for the bill. This guide should be similar to a thin arc on its side.

Step 4: Connect the head to the body using curved lines to create the guide for the female mallard duck's neck. Pay attention to how these lines curve. On the right side of the body, draw a short curved line as a guide for the small tail. Under the body, draw an angled line as a guide for the foot. This line should be similar to a backward letter L.

That's it for the guidelines! From this point on, press down harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing of a female mallard duck.

Step 5: Inside the head, lightly sketch a small circle for the mallard duck's eye. Use the initial lines as guides to help you position the eye inside the head. When you get the size and position of the eye right, darken the lines but make the sides pointier for the corners of the eye. Inside the eye, off to the side draw a tiny circle for a highlight. In the middle of the eye, draw a slightly bigger circle and shade it in for the pupil. Add a few small, curved lines around the bird's eye for a bit of bare skin. Draw the top part of the bill inside the initial arc on the left side of the head. Make the shape curvier than the initial guide. Add a few curved lines on the right side that are made up of short strokes for the feathery base of the bill.

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Step 6: Draw a few long sloping lines on the bottom part of the arc for the lower part of the duck's bill. Inside the top part of the bill, draw a small oval for the nostril and a few lines for wrinkles. Darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the head. Make front part of the head longer than the initial circle.

Step 7: Draw a long, curved shape inside the body for the mallard's folded wing. The tip of the wing should be outside of the body. Use curved lines to emphasize the shape of the feathers. Draw the shape of the foot around the guide that's under the body. At the bottom, draw three thin pointy toes that face the left side. Draw curved lines between the toes for the webbed foot. Add a smaller toe pointing backward on the right side.

Step 8: Draw a series of curved lines inside the duck's wing to create individual feathers. Make these lines different sizes. Draw the other foot under the body as well. Part of this foot will be hidden behind the first foot, so only draw the visible toes. Don't forget the webbing on the toes and the toe pointing backward!

Step 9: Darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the female mallard's body. On the right side, draw a series of short lines to create the short tail. Make the lines different sizes for more feathers.

Step 10: For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step: Shade your female mallard drawing for extra detail. Draw a speckled pattern all over the body using a medium value. Shade lightly at first and gradually build up to darker values. For light values, push down very lightly on your pencil and push down harder for darker values. Create the pattern by drawing short strokes all over the body. Make the strokes bigger as you get to the body so that they become feathers on the wing. Leave the tips of the feather blank. Use stronger values along the bottoms of the shapes to create shadows. Shade the bill and feet using lighter, smoother values. It's a good idea to use reference as you shade for a more accurate depiction of a female mallard duck. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

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