Drawing birds can seem daunting, but with some simple techniques, anyone can start sketching our feathered friends. Renowned ornithologist and illustrator David Sibley has revolutionized birding with his beautiful and detailed paintings. His books, like The Sibley Guide to Birds and The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, have become essential tools for amateur birders. Sibley’s illustrations capture subtle plumage details like no photograph can. In this guide, we will learn step-by-step how to draw a bird using methods from David Sibley himself.
Why Draw Birds?
Here are some key reasons why drawing birds is a worthwhile pursuit:
- Improves your observational skills – Learning to truly see the colors, patterns, and proportions of birds trains you to be a keen observer in the field.
- Deepens your appreciation for birds – The act of drawing a bird makes you appreciate more of their beauty and special traits.
- Helps document field observations – Drawing what you see is a great way to record notes and memories from birding outings.
- Fun challenge – Birds are very complex organisms, capturing them accurately with just pencil and paper is a fulfilling but difficult skill.
David Sibley’s Approach
As one of America’s preeminent bird illustrators, David Sibley has a wealth of wisdom to impart. Here are some of his key tips for drawing birds:
- Start with the basic shapes – Begin with simple ovals and lines to capture the major forms before adding detail.
- Lightly sketch, then darken key lines – Use a light touch so you can easily erase and revise early attempts.
- Focus on proportion – Accurately convey the relative sizes and placement of body parts.
- Practice, practice, practice – Sibley has drawn tens of thousands of birds to perfect his technique.
Now let’s dive into a step-by-step guide for drawing your first bird.
Step 1 – Choose a Reference Photo
It’s much easier to practice drawing a stationary bird photo than a live, moving subject. For your first attempts, find a clear, high resolution photo of a bird in a simple pose where you can clearly see all the key features. Some good starter birds are robins, cardinals, blue jays, and chickadees. Avoid photos with shadows, unusual positions, or occluded features. Print or display the reference photo near your drawing surface for easy viewing.
Reference Photo Tips
- Good lighting – Look for photos with clear, bright lighting that illuminates all the features.
- Straightforward pose – Select a bird facing left or right, not an awkward angle or wings obstructing the body.
- Fill the frame – Choose close-up shots where the bird takes up most of the image.
- Plain background – Photographs with simple, out-of-focus backgrounds are best.
Step 2 – Sketch the Basic Forms
Use basic shapes like ovals and tapered cylinders to sketch the primary masses and contours of the bird. Start with the largest forms and work your way down to the smaller parts:
Basic Shapes
Body Part | Basic Shape |
---|---|
Head | Oval or Sphere |
Body | Oval |
Tail | Triangle or Oval |
Legs | Cylinders |
Beak | Cone |
Use quick, light lines and keep checking proportions against your reference photo. Don’t worry about details yet. Focus only on the overall size and placement of each body part.
Step 3 – Refine the Details
Now start adding the finer details like feathers and eyes over top of the basic framework:
Feathers
- Overlap like shingles on a roof
- Draw curves and zigzags to represent barbs and barbules
- Group into contours to show 3D form
Facial Features
- Eyes have round iris, oval pupil and upper/lower eyelid
- Nostrils are small ovals on the upper beak
- Add scales and texture to legs and feet
Work evenly across the whole drawing to avoid getting bogged down in one area. Erase and rework any bits that don’t look accurate. Darken your best lines and reinforce the outlines.
Step 4 – Add Shading
Shading adds a sense of roundness and depth to bring your drawing to life. Add shadows using the side of your pencil tip and subtle blending:
Shading Guidelines
- Light comes from above, so upper areas are lighter
- Soft gradations, avoid harsh lines
- Blend with tortillon or tissue for smoothness
- Deepen shadows on underside of bird
The most dramatic shadows will be on the underside of the subject. Use an eraser to add highlights and convey reflected light. Work slowly and check values against your reference photo.
Step 5 – Practice, Practice, Practice!
Drawing birds takes patience and dedication. The more you practice, the more lifelike your drawings will become. Here are some tips to refine your technique:
Improvement Tips
- Draw from life – Observe birds outdoors and sketch them in real time
- Vary species – Try drawing different sizes and families of birds
- Focus on subtleties – Capture unique feather patterns, expression, colors
- Draw bigger – Use larger paper to fit in more detail
- Take a class – Get expert instruction and feedback from a teacher
Consult reference materials like Sibley’s guides to ensure accuracy on feather groupings, relative proportions, and plumage details. Dedicate 15 or 20 minutes a day to sketching and you will be amazed at your progress over time.
Conclusion
David Sibley has inspired generations of bird lovers with his incredibly detailed and realistic illustrations. By breaking down a bird into simple shapes, sculpting the major forms, refining details from feathers to feet, and adding thoughtful shading, anyone can learn to draw birds. Remember to practice frequently from reference photos and life, study the work of masters like Sibley, and above all, have fun watching your drawing abilities take flight!