Learning how to draw a bald eagle is a fun way for kids to practice drawing animals while learning about one of the most recognizable birds in North America. With its white head, strong yellow beak, brown wings, and powerful feet, the bald eagle is a truly majestic bird and an exciting subject for young artists.
This quick tutorial breaks the drawing into six simple steps, so kids can build the eagle a little at a time. These easy steps – great for beginners, classroom art activities, homeschool lessons, or anyone who wants to practice drawing a bird of prey without getting overwhelmed by too many details. Follow each step below or scroll to the bottom of this post for a free printable.
Grab a pencil, eraser, black marker, and some crayons or colored pencils, and use the picture above as your guide.
Step 1: Draw the Bald Eagle Head
Start with the bald eagle head near the upper portion of your paper. Begin by drawing the large hooked beak. The top of the beak should curve downward into a point, while the lower portion can be made with another smaller curved line.
Continue drawing around the top and back of the eagle’s head. Add several short lines or pointed curves at the back to represent the fluffy feathers around its neck.
Bring the line underneath the head to complete the basic shape. Don’t worry about making everything perfectly symmetrical. A few uneven feather shapes will give your eagle more personality.
Step 2: Begin the Eagle’s Body and Legs
Next, start forming the eagle’s body underneath the head. Draw a curved long line beginning below the neck and extending downward to create the chest.
Then add two legs near the bottom of the body. Keep them fairly simple at this stage. You can use slightly curved lines and small jagged shapes at the bottom where the feathers meet the feet.
Bald eagles are large birds, but for this cartoon drawing, you can exaggerate the head and keep the body rounded to make the eagle look friendly and approachable.
Step 3: Add the Wings and Tail Feathers
Now draw the eagle’s large wing. Start near the shoulder and use a long curved line that travels down the side of the body. Bring the wing to a point near the bottom.
Add a few small points or curves along the lower edge to suggest individual feathers.
Behind the wing, draw the tail feathers extending from the bottom of the body. You can use several curved or pointed sections to create a layered feather appearance.
At this stage, the basic eagle shape should be easy to recognize.
Step 4: Draw the Feet
Next, complete the legs by adding the eagle’s feet. Draw several curved toes extending outward from each leg.
Eagles have powerful feet and sharp talons that help them catch and carry prey. Since this is a simple cartoon version, you don’t need to add complicated details. A few curved lines for the toes work perfectly.
This is also a good time to erase any overlapping guidelines you no longer need.
Step 5: Add the Eye and Feather Details
Draw a small oval on the eagle’s face for the eye. You can fill it in later with black.
Next, add decorative feather markings to the wing. Use a few groups of short lines or little zigzag shapes to suggest layers of feathers.
You can also add a couple of lines to the tail feathers to give them more definition.
Your eagle is now ready for color!
Step 6: Color Your Bald Eagle
Color the eagle’s wings and body brown while leaving the head and tail a light cream or white. Make the beak and feet yellow or orange, and fill the small oval eye with black.
Bald eagles are native to North America and are famous for their distinctive white heads and tails. Although the bald eagle was once listed as an endangered species in parts of the United States, conservation efforts helped its population recover significantly.
This majestic bird is a wonderful animal to include in nature studies, patriotic activities, bird units, or simple drawing lessons.
By following these simple steps, kids can create their own recognizable bald eagle without needing advanced art skills. This quick tutorial also provides a great way to practice curved lines, a long line, feather shapes, and basic animal proportions.
Once your first bird of prey is complete, try drawing another eagle flying through the sky, sitting in a nest, or perched on a tree branch. Each drawing is a chance to practice and add even more details!
How to Draw a Bald Eagle FREE Printable
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